One Buck Horror Debut!

Fellow Horror Writers Association member, Christopher Hawkins, teamed with his wife, Kris M Hawkins, have compiled a collection of horror for our enjoyment. The first issue, One Buck Horror Volume 1, has been released on ebook for Kindle, Nook, iPhone and iPad. As the name implies, each volume can be purchased for the low price of one dollar.

This volume features five scary stories by various authors. Each tale brings spine-chilling, brain candy for the horror enthusiast. Edited by Christopher and Kris, complete with spectacular cover art by Shawn Conn, this is one you won't want to miss out on!

New volumes are slated to be released bi-monthly, at least, and feature 4-6 stories that are less than 3,000 words in length, making it a quick, fun read. The stories are from new and established writers, and follow the tradition of popular writers such as Stephen King, Richard Matheson, and Ray Bradbury.

One Buck Horror is open for short story submissions of less than 3,000 words. If you're interested, you can find more information in the submission guidelines.

In this issue are the following stories:

• "Jenny's House" by Ada Hoffmann. A fascinating tale of child's play taken to a whole new level.
• "A Lullaby for Caliban" by Mark Onspaugh. Kids, a carnival, and carnies. A great mix!
• "The Last Nephew" by Elizabeth Twist. A creepy story that will keep you guessing.
• "The Cornfield" by Mike Trier. Nobody likes a cornfield at night, right?
• "The Ginger Men" by Julie Jansen. I may never want to eat another baked good from the nice lady next door. 

I asked Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins if they would mind to give me an interview, and they graciously accepted. Please read on to find out more about them.

 1. What made you decide to start up One Buck Horror?

Well, we'd been kicking around the idea of doing an anthology for a long time, and with the rise of ebooks and the flexibility they provide, it just seemed like the right time. We knew we wanted to create something that would appeal to casual horror fans as well as the real aficionados, and we wanted to offer it at the best price we could. That's when One Buck Horror was born!

2. Do you design your covers based on the type of stories, or theme in that particular issue?

Our covers (both of which were created by a fantastic artist named Shawn Conn), were intended to stand on their own, and necessarily not tie in with the contents of their volumes. However, our Volume Two cover ties in nicely with one of the stories inside, even though that wasn't intentional.

3. Would you consider Lovecraft-inspired stories, or do you anticipate an issue dedicated to his themes, such as the Cthulhu Mythos?

We definitely consider Lovecraftian stories for One Buck Horror. We do have a special issue planned for the near future, but it's not Lovecraft-themed. If that does well, then we'd be open to doing more. A whole issue of Cthulhu Mythos stories would be a lot of fun to put together.

4. Do you see One Buck Horror branching out to publish stand alone novels or novellas in the future?

It's certainly possible, but right now, we're focused on putting out the best anthologies we can. But if that's successful, then the sky's the limit!

5. Can you give writers an idea of the type of horror story you are looking for?

We're looking for stories that are scary, first and foremost. Stories that grip readers right from the beginning and leave them wanting more. Beyond that, we're open to a wide range of styles and themes, as long as the stories are 3000 words or less.

Thank you for your time and for your dedication to the genre! I look forward to watching One Buck Horror evolve as time goes on, and I eagerly await each issue. Horror lovers, let's unite for support!

For more information about One Buck Horror and Volume 1, please visit here.

It Stays in the Family

This story comes courtesy of Dan O'Shea's challenge to write a story about a dysfunctional family dealing with the loss of a member and the consequent tussle over the fortune. Also, for every story he receives, he will donate $5 to Heartsprings, which is a center for children with autism. It's a great opportunity, folks, and if you want to help out with the cause, you can read more about it here. Oh, and Happy Birthday, Dan!

Of course my twisted little mind began turning it's rusty old gears and came up with this, um, interesting, tale.

I hope you enjoy!

IT STAYS IN THE FAMILY

When mama died, all hell broke loose. And I mean literally. A brimstone demon isn't supposed to go in their sleep like some coward, they're supposed to go down, if indeed they ever do, in battle, in a blaze of triumphant sulphur-laced glory. But she didn't, and now here I sit in this stinking, molded, 

mildew-encrusted attic holding my weapons pointed at the door, waiting for the legions of the others to come. 

They were unleashed for me - I should be flattered, really, because they don't just come out for anybody. But mama was important. She was the last breeding one of our kind here, and the most powerful. I'm the only child who decided to stay on earth. The rest went back to hell where they truly belonged. My soft heart and sensitive nature were considered a defect, an unnatural oddity, and they think I talked mama into dying like this. Now they want me dead, but they don't realize it's too late. I have it. 

That's right. 

When mama died, I stayed through until the end, and that's no easy feat, not even for another demon. The body decays fast, but every soul she has eaten will try to escape, impossibly, in a bright, implosion, and let me tell you, they will try every way they can to take you with them. Sound easy? It's not. I was holding onto the ceiling with my toes and claws dug in, tucked up tight, and I still barely escaped. Don't get me wrong, the only thing that would have happened is I would have gone back to hell, but that's not such a great option for me. One of the first stops is to be judged, and the last time I was down there, I kind of pissed Minos off. He told me he would get me the next time, and after he was done with me he would take me to dad, and I don't want dad to get a hold of me, that's for sure. Dad's already mad because I chose to stay here. 

No one understands me.

But back to the point. They think they can come up here, seek revenge on mama's death by killing me, and take the legacy. There's one big thing wrong with their plan.

I took the legacy myself. 

They will never expect this one. I almost want to let them live long enough to see their faces. I guess I have more brimstone in me than I thought.

I put the legacy in a box right after it was expelled from her, and don't make me say where it came from. Ugh. The legacy wasn't as big as I thought it would be, and I was so confused I didn't know what to do, so I just grabbed it. It's still in the box, and here it sits under me. I never let it out of my sight. 

I can feel them getting near. My skin has started burning, and my head is beginning to feel the pressure. Their anger and hatred radiates from them in a massive, pulsing cloud. They'll be here any minute. 

There's only one thing left to do.

I will have all of her power. Everything. They will have to kill me to take it, and not even their numbers will be enough.

They're scratching at the door. 

Mama, this is for you. 

Gulp.

The Devil's Run - A Nolichucky River Tale

Hi folks! I am bringing you a legend, local to me, that is creepy and intriguing. It is about The Devil's Run, a purportedly haunted location on the Nolichucky River, located in TN. More can be found about the legend here. 

 Photo found at Outpost Usa.

The river, seen above, is a favorite for whitewater rafting and canoeing. It is a popular place, and well known to locals. There are parts of the river that are beautifully scenic, and other parts that invoke a spooky feeling. It's no wonder that a few tales are told in accordance with the area. I had heard this tale when I was younger, and when I came across it again, my mind began to swirl with ideas. Quickly I penned the following, which is an embellishment on the original. Again, this is not the story itself, but one of the versions I saw in my head. I hope you enjoy it!

*I have removed the story due to it being accepted for publication. As soon as more details emerge on where the story can be found, I will post them here. Thank you for your understanding and support!