AZ2

Hello readers!

I've got a few items of news I'm excited to share. Starting with...

Amazing Stories Reader's Choice Awards:

My story, “These Streets Are Bruised”, is up for a Reader’s Choice Award at Amazing Stories Magazine! Anyone interested in having a read of this dark near-future SF/noir tale starring my recurring detective partners, Clark and Kessel, and considering it for a vote, feel free to check it out along with all the many other amazing stories that are in the running, here:

Amazing Stories Reader's Choice Awards

All participating voters are entered into a random drawing to get an Amazing Selects Anthology Bundle, the winner receiving the electronic editions of No Police = Know Future, Cents of Wonder: Science Fiction’s First Award Winners and Amazing Stories The Best of 2023! Voting ends at 10 AM (EST), January 16th of 2025.

Thank you!

And in other exciting news...

Foxhill Doubles No. 1:

The first volume in the Foxhill Doubles series is now available in a digital edition (with the hardcover and paperback following very soon). Volume No. 1 features a revised version of my dark urban legend story, “Blue Love Maria”, which was published in my first story collection back in 2009, along with a never-before-published story titled “Maria’s Comet”, a science fiction/weird western/dark fantasy story.

Foxhill Doubles is an ongoing series of two-story chapbook releases featuring fiction from yours truly—the first story a revised version of a previously published one, the second unpublished and appearing in print for the first time. Published by Foxhill Press. Digital edition available here.

Here are the gorgeous cover artworks for both the hardcover and paperback editions, as well as the digital release, by Avery Daisy Book Design:

Waxing nostalgic:

I finally had some time to frame this gorgeous artwork by my friend, local artist Owen Swain. Inspired by my story, "Your Bone Spider Will Find You", Owen's piece really captures the weird dark heart of the tale perfectly. He even went so far as to commemorate the print with a "Weird Windsor" caption at the bottom. I love it.

Speaking of artists involved with WW, this same picture features our Weird Windsor Anthology, the cover of which was painted by Carl Lavoie, as well as the event poster drawn by Greg Maxwell, a.k.a. The Ugly Vision (which is also going to be framed and hung up on my wall at some point). The anthology's table of contents is loaded with local talent, featuring fiction and art from Owen Swain, Brittni Brinn, Carl Lavoie, Jason Rolfe, Elizabeth J.M. Walker, Jamie Greer, Greg Maxwell/The Ugly Vision, C.M Forest, Hanan Hazime, Ben Van Dongen, Dave Konstantino, and Roy G. James. My story, "The Priests" is in the book, too (which you can also check out for free on its Payhip page, here). And you can read the anthology for free at its Payhip page, here:

I am surrounded by talented artists, writers, and musicians. And going through some of these materials has really made me nostalgic for WW, though the event only took place back in mid-November, on the day my new book was released. Of course, if we all schemed and plotted together there could be a second Weird Windsor...

Oddly Weird Fiction Review:

I'm very grateful and honoured for the fantastic review of BEWARE US FLOWERS OF THE ANNIHILATOR that was recently published on Oddly Weird Fiction. Nancy Oakes has long been a supporter of my work, and her wonderful and insightful reviews are always hugely appreciated. OWF is also an absolutely incredible resource for anyone looking for new books to add to their reading list, so do yourselves a favour and visit the site for a look around.

Anyone interested in checking out what other reviewers are saying about ANNIHILATOR can find some review excerpts on the book's page on my website, here (or keep scrolling and you'll see some of them as part of a few promo graphics). You'll find reviews from the incredibly prolific Tony Jones (author of the amazing resource, The YA Horror 400 almanac) via Horror DNAand Ginger Nuts of Horror, the also prolific Adam Groves of the Bedlam Files, as well as Rising Shadow, fellow Canadian horror author Steve Stred (Mastodon, Churn the Soil, Wagon Buddy), and more. I'm ecstatic about the wonderful response that ANNIHILATOR has been getting, and so very honoured. It's always a rewarding feeling when your work connects with readers. Thank you all!

Related to the above, I was incredibly honoured to learn that BEWARE US FLOWERS OF THE ANNIHILATOR made Horror DNA's Top Ten Horror Releases of the Year list for 2024!

Here are some other review excerpts that have been making the rounds on social media the past month or so:

ANNIHILATOR also made it onto Steve Stred's end-of-year best-of list:

Thank you, Steve!

Before I sign off, I should mention that for anyone who missed my first newsletter, you can still read it by visiting the landing page and clicking on the following near the bottom:

That's all for now. But there's a lot of exciting stuff in the works, so you'll hear from me again before long. Until then, take care of yourselves and be good to each other.

Onwards!

- AZ