So much time and so little news!

I may have got that backwards. Errr…

The Patchwork House

It’s real! It exists… At least for pre-order. Reserve your copy now before the internet runs out of data. It could happen! Oh and take a look at the cover in all its glory. Very pleased with how this turned out. Getting the right cover for this book was quite a task, and I have Justin Terrell of Azarath Designs to thank for this haunting image.

Yummy. Here’s the book description…

How do you escape an entity who can manipulate time itself?

Accompanied by his American girlfriend Beth, British ex-pat James Randal has come home to assess his father’s latest real estate venture. The house at Binsham Park is an enigma of patchwork architecture from various eras, nestled in the remote Herefordshire countryside.

And it is haunted.

The ghosts of Binsham Park have never harmed anyone before, and the chance to stay the weekend in a real life haunted house is too great to pass up. Having invited James’s old school friend Derek and his wife Chloe to join them, the couples prepare for two days of ghostly adventure and excitement.

But something is waiting for them inside The Patchwork House. Something so powerful it can move pieces of the house back and forth through time at will. Something so malicious it will tear apart reality to isolate and torment its victims. Something so terrifying it will push James and his friends beyond the limits of sanity.

When time yields to the will of something truly evil, you’re in for the longest night of your life…

The Patchwork House is released on December 9th.

Fantasy For Good

Another title released on December 9th is an anthology two years in the making. Fantasy For Good is nearly here, and you can pre-order it now. My co-editor, Jordan Ellinger, and I are really proud of this true labour of love, and we hope it will raise a ton of cash for the Colon Cancer Alliance. As you may know, this project got a whole lot more personal last year when my wife was diagnosed with colon cancer, after we chose this anthology’s beneficiary. She has since recovered from preventative surgery and has been declared cancer free. We also lost Jay Lake this year, who was the original inspiration behind the project and the reason why we chose our charity.

One of our contributors is the legendary Piers Anthony, and he was good enough to read the whole anthology and review it for his newsletter. The review begins in the second paragraph. This is a real privilege and we’re very grateful to Mr Anthony for donating a terrific story and for helping to spread the word about us. A true gentleman.

Still adore that cover… Don’t forget to like the Facebook page.

Urban Fantasy Magazine

Some of you may know that I took on the position of slush editor for a brand new online magazine, edited by Jordan Ellinger and Emily C. Skaftun. The zine is monthly and launched earlier this month. If you’re a fan of Urban Fantasy, or you just like good stories, take a look at the website. It’s pay what you want and issue #1 features a brand new story from Ken Scholes, our first pick from the slush by John Wiswell, along with reviews and essays. It’s well worth a read.

Want to send us a story? We’re always on the lookout for great new talent, so please check out our submission guidelines. We offer a reasonable turnaround on your story plus useful feedback. No form rejections from us.

The cover for issue #1 is by Paul Pederson, who also painted the Fantasy For Good cover. Yes he’s very talented and yes you should hire him for your project.

And also…

A thank you to Ellen Datlow, who puts out an annual list of “Honorable Mentions“, featuring a portion of the incredible volume of short stories she reads each year that she particularly enjoyed. I was blown away when my story for Nightscapes: Volume 1 was included. A lovely surprise. Take a look at page 3 of her list and there it is:

Salter, Richard “Worldly Possessions,” Nightscapes volume 1.

Some days it’s good to be a writer.

Thanks for reading. More updates soon!