Horror Aficionados discussion

Hi,

I wanted to edit this post and tidy things up a bit.

I've written three pieces of horror literature. They could be called Gothic or traditional, I suppose.



Mask of the Macabre - 99c/77p

Four short tales of Victorian terror, each bound to the other by a chilling thread.

The date is January 10th 1866 and the snow is falling thick on the blood soaked streets of a murderous London…

Mask of The Macabre – A travelling magician appears with a gruesome show. But what secret does it hide?

Doctor Harvey – Bethlem lunatic asylum’s newest patient has a story to tell, but how will he tell it to his doctor?

Memento Mori – A photographer is given a mysterious assignment with disturbing consequences.

The New Costume. – The entertainer discovers a new string to his bow and gives the finest performance of his career.

(13,000 words in total)

http://www.amazon.com/Mask-of-the-Mac...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mask-of-the-M...




Ballet of the Bones - 99c/77p

Four short tales of Victorian terror, each bound to the other by a chilling thread.

London suffocates under the festering reek of its bursting graveyards.

Ballet of the Bones – The curtain goes up on the greatest show on earth, but is everything all it seems?

The Bone House – The grave digger reflects on his morbid life, but what does his future hold?

The Engineer – His creations are beautiful, intricate and for a discerning palate.

Encore – The director makes ready for the end of the show.

13,700 words.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ballet-of-the...

http://www.amazon.com/Ballet-of-the-B...

Each one is a collection of four short stories bound together by a chilling thread. They are very much inspired by Victorian horror literature and were deliciously evil to write!

Reviews have been favourable, so if you fancy some good old fashioned horror you might enjoy these stories.

and...



Seance of the Souls

January 7th 1855

A boy weeps beside the grave of his dead father; his infant sister clings to his leg. It is another pitiless blow for a life already stained with blood.

When all those you hold dear have been taken from you, where do you find solace?

In the arms of the dead, for the living no longer care.

This is novella length and totals approximately, 21,500 words

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seance-of-the...

http://www.amazon.com/Seance-of-the-S...

Just wanted to share some reviews for my little book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A quality quartet 11 Feb 2013
By Ignite TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseThis quartet of inter-related short stories is written in the Penny Dreadful style of Victorian melodrama and it pulls the style off very well. The language is measured and portentous; the dark alley-ways of Victorian London with their swirling mists are conjured up very evocatively. The stories are engaging but gruesome. They aren't the slasher, bloodfest style of horror, although there's blood in there aplenty. They are more the creepy, unpleasant and subtle kind of old fashioned horror which I very much enjoy.

There's some lovely writing here; good descriptions of the night time scenes, the buildings, the people. David Haynes' writing is showing great fluency and his characters become three dimensional because of it. There's the theatre performer whose show is more than it seems, a lunatic asylum patient, a photographer of the dead, producing the Memento Mori beloved of those times and almost, a return to the beginning.... One character in the book stood out for me and aroused my compassion but I can't say more without spoiling the story. You'll have to read it to find out! This is a little gem of its genre.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended 10 Feb 2013
By ElaineG TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Kindle EditionWhilst I do like the occasional short story, I am not one for anthologies, I much prefer a good meaty novel that I can sink my teeth into. So, this little selection of four short stories was a pleasant surprise, as it transpires that each story is connected, so it felt more as if I were reading a full length book.

The stories are all set in Victorian London and the author has done a fantastic job setting the scene, you can almost touch the fog! The writing and dialogue are all fitting for the times the stories are set in, all of which put me in mind of the early Hammer Horror films; I half expected Peter Cushing or Vincent Price to appear in a cameo. If you like traditional macabre horror stories rather than zombies or chainsaw massacres, then these stories should appeal. Highly recommended.

I had a rather lovely moment just after releasing my little book. For a brief couple of hours I was sandwiched between a certain Mr. E.A Poe and H.P. Lovecraft on the Amazon horror short story chart at #3!
I had to take a photo of it! (come on who wouldn't?)It may be the only time I am in such legendary and wonderful company.

I wanted to share another great review on .co.uk

4.0 out of 5 stars Grisly and atmospheric Victorian tales of dread 13 Feb 2013
By Alex Roddie
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseMask of the Macabre is a new short story collection from David Haynes, recently published on Kindle.

I really enjoyed this collection of Victorian horror stories from David Haynes. In character they reminded me of the work of Poe, or some of H.G. Wells' tales of mystery: atmospheric stories with a focus on the darkness within the human mind. I was also reminded of certain scenes in Dracula (although this is not a book about vampires!) Pleasingly, each tale is linked together by a common thread, making this more akin to a novella than a collection of unrelated stories.

The setting will be a familiar one for many readers of historical fiction. London in the 1860s is recreated in a poetic rather than strictly accurate fashion, but I felt this approach suited the tone of the piece. The reader is taken to Bethlem lunatic asylum, a decayed stately home, a theatre. The characters we meet are very memorable and I found Doctor Harvey particularly fascinating.

I felt that the stories really got going after the first one, which wasn't as well written as the other pieces. The language and dialogue initially felt a little strained, as if the author was trying to replicate a 19th century feel without much confidence. However, from story 2 onwards the writing was more fluid and the characters and stories really began to shine through.

In terms of historical accuracy, by and large the author gets it right. There are a few areas that didn't quite ring true (for example, certain interactions between upper and lower class characters) and I get the impression that the author is still building his confidence with period dialogue. However, in stories like these it hardly matters: it's all about atmosphere and tension, both of which are supplied in copious amounts.

Overall these tales are skilfully told, and I believe David Haynes has a lot of potential in this genre. It feels like he is just starting to stretch his wings in the broad skies of the 19th century, and with more practice and research he could produce some truly brilliant pieces!

The book has now had a fantastic 8 reviews in the UK giving it 4.8/5 on Amazon and 5 reviews in the US giving it the same aggregate. I was hoping the book would be well recieved (as authors always do!) but it's always a nervous few weeks until the first few reviews come in.It seems there is still a desire for good old fashioned "creepiness"
I couldn't be happier with the reception so far. It's spurred me on to continue with something very similar for my next project!

This weekend, Mask of the Macabre was featured on Brian Freeman's fantastic new website dedicated to bargain horror literature. It's a fantastic site and I recommend signing up to the email updates.
http://www.ehorrorbargains.com

Nice - did you get a boost?

I did, it was the best month for sales on .com

Cool.

Hopefully those who bought it will enjoy it enough to go for Ballet of the Bones too!

They should, it was also an excellent read.

Thanks, Michael!

Damn I had a golden opportunity to pimp my review! I must be slipping :-)

Haha!

Hi, just a quick update. I wanted to share this terrific review from .com.

Victorian-style horror at its best April 5, 2013
By chrisam

I did not read any reviews of this book. I bought it on the bases of the blurb and cover art alone. Not to mention the more than reasonable price. What a pleasingly unpleasant surprise. David Haynes can really write, and he transports the reader back to the Victorian era with its hypocrisy and barely concealed underbelly of squalor and horror. A chilling little book. I agree with the reviews I've read since: 5 stars all the way and encore!

David, I must read your stuff; this sounds like the sort of horror I love best. The story of the momento mori photographer is very intriguing to me.....reminds me of the opening credits from American Horror Story; (1st season)very creepy.

Someday I would love to read a work of horror fiction set in, or focusing on, Highgate Cemetery. The place is the height of Victorian Gothic eeriness, has an inspiring history, and my is #1 place to visit in London.

Thanks Holly. I've not seen that TV show, perhaps I should seek it out. One of the stories in Ballet of the Bones is set almost exclusively in a graveyard.
I find the Victorian obsession with death to be incredibly inspiring. The true stories about the cemeteries and morbid Victorian practices are excellent fodder for a horror writer.Thanks for looking at my profile. I love hearing from anybody!

Hi again. I wanted to share this review with you all. Okay, so it's an attempt to encourage you to read my books. Can't blame a guy though, can you?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars more Victorian horror from mr. haynes April 10, 2013
By chrisam
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another great quartet of sprintingling horror from this fine author. This may even surpass his Mask of the Macabre. I haven't decided yet. But you can't go wrong with either collection. This guy has a definite grasp of the grotesque. I mean ..."sleeping amongst the miasma of a hundred rotting corpses." C'mon, that's so decadent that it's brilliant.A phrase worthy of Clark Ashton Smith

It seems reviewers are enjoying that alliteration in the title! Great to see the interaction and it makes reading reviews even more enjoyable


4.0 out of 5 stars Violent, vividly verbose Victorian vignettes, 13 April 2013
By David Wailing (London, UK) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Mask of the Macabre (Kindle Edition)
Mask of the Macabre is a must-read for lovers of Victorian fiction. It is so firmly set in that stylised world of gas lamps, squalor, wealthy gentlemen and horse-and-carriage that it feels like it might be a modern reprint of a genuine 'penny dreadful'!

The four stories dovetail very well into each other, working just as well as smaller tales. David Haynes writes in a style very fitting to the Victorian era, full of exquisite detail and pomposity. It took me a while to get used to such a dense and overly-descriptive style, which doesn't usually appeal, but towards the end I came to appreciate how it added flavour and texture to the stories. Although this is a short read, I was impressed enough to buy Ballet of the Bones which seems to be a stylistic sequel.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Grotesque Gothic Novella, 13 April 2013
By David Savage - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: Mask of the Macabre (Kindle Edition)
Four fascinating feasts of fiction. Each epic enigmatically engrossing. Demonic dramas dynamically detailed. Complex characters cleverly created. Beastly butchery brilliantly broadcast. Another ace, author ascends

Why is it that Horror lit is sometimes disregarded as 'neither serious or legitimate' as works of modern literature? Recently I was having dinner with some relatives and we were discussing books.

I told them what I'd written recently and was greeted with. 'Ah yes, but when are you going to write another proper book?'

'A proper book?' I asked, confused.

'Yes, you know, a thriller or something. Even better' what about some romance!'

Hmph! It's not the first time something like that has happened either.

Until I started writing horror, I didn't know people felt like that. Disappointing and disappointed.

I know that feeling-it's even worse when I mention it's not proper horror :-)

It's ridiculous! Michael, I enjoyed the first story in Odd Quartet. A great little ghost story with a modern twist. Top stuff

I keep meaning to do a follow up, that was a fun story.

David wrote: "Why is it that Horror lit is sometimes disregarded as 'neither serious or legitimate' as works of modern literature? Recently I was having dinner with some relatives and we were discussing books.

..."

Pay no attention to the requests of anyone who considers a 'romance' novel to be a proper book.

Haha! Thanks, Holly. I'm not sure I could write romance anyway!

Is there such a thing as horror romance? I don't mean Twilight or other Vampire based horror because everyone knows vampires are the letharios of horror. No I mean proper horror/romance?
I'll have to think about it.

I'm sure there is. Which makes me wonder, is having sex with a zombie still necrophilia?

Good question. They're animate, although dead so I'm not sure!

I am about half way through the first draft of my new book, entitled A Séance of Souls. It is likely to be novella length on completion and will continue my current theme of Victorian/gothic horror. The cover has been commissioned and will also continue the theme, although subtly different to reflect the length and also the differences in structure. I'm not giving away the plot but this story concentrates on one man and his family rather than from differing viewpoints.

There are some threads from both Ballet of the Bones and Mask of the Macabre in there, but as before, is also a stand-alone book.

I'm enjoying writing it again and the depth of material and inspiration from that era is incredible. Is it any wonder that many Victorian writers on both sides of the Atlantic wrote some truly wonderfully dark tales?

I'm not setting a release date in stone, just yet, but hopefully in the next couple of weeks Ill be able to give a more accurate time scale.

This news excites me :-)

Excellent, thanks for the encouragement Michael.

For the first and last time I’m running a free promotion on Mask of the Macabre. It runs from today until the end of play on the 5th May (3days)

Four short tales of Victorian terror, each bound to the other by a chilling thread.

The date is January 10th 1866 and the snow is falling thick on the blood soaked streets of a murderous London…

Mask of The Macabre – A travelling magician appears with a gruesome show. But what secret does it hide?

Doctor Harvey – Bethlem lunatic asylum’s newest patient has a story to tell, but how will he tell it to his doctor?

Memento Mori – A photographer is given a mysterious assignment with disturbing consequences.

The New Costume. – The entertainer discovers a new string to his bow and gives the finest performance of his career.

(13,000 words in total)

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mask-of-the-M...

http://www.amazon.com/Mask-of-the-Mac...

Picked it up, David. Heading to work with a list of short stories to read. Yours is on top!

Great stuff, Ken. I hope you enjoy it!

I have to report, downloads have been slower than I'd hoped. Its my first venture into Amazon free promotion with a short story, short horror lit too, so I supposed I shouldn't be too surprised. Still, there's still plenty of time for you all to fall under the melancholy spell of Mask of the Macabre!

Well done, David! 4 STARS!

I will get a review posted here and on Amazon!

Great stuff, Ken! Thank you very much. I'm really pleased you enjoyed it.

I love Victorian horror! These were perfect!

Ken wrote: "I love Victorian horror! These were perfect!"

I second that emotion - you should check out Ballet of the Bones, more of the same goodness.

thanks David just picked it up. I should post in the good thins thread because i am scoring some great freebies today.

Great, Michael I hope you enjoy it! And thanks, Michael!

downloaded today :)

Wonderful, Donna! I hope you enjoy it.

Hi, I don't know if this of interest to anyone but here's the results of my first day. It seems folks on the other side of the Atlantic appreciate horror lit than here in the UK.

Day 1 update.
UK - 91 downloads.
.COM - 582
Germany - 11
Canada - 4
Not so good in the UK, but it has put me in the charts for both short stories and horror, which I'm pleased with.
Thanks for the support gang!

Finished this today. 3.5 (rounded up to 4). Really liked how the stories were linked. Good luck with the book.

Great, thanks, Kate!

Liked the writing style very much!

Thanks J.W.

I have completed the third book in this style. It's called Séance of the Souls and is a single story of novella length. I hope to have it published in the next week or so.
Thank you for your support everyone.

Gonna check this out David, sounds interesting