Joe Mynhardt - Founder and CEO of Crystal Lake Entertainment

27/07/2024

Free magazine!

Download the brand new Siren's Call magazine right here:http://www.sirenscallpublications.com/pdfs/SirensCallEZine_Summer2024.pdf

26/07/2024

Happy book launch day to Rick Hipson!

Both the eBook and paperback editions are already number 1 Hot New Releases on Amazon. ;-)

24/07/2024

The paperback's out early (actually launches on Friday), and it's already number 1! Same with the eBook in the Horror & Supernatural Literary Criticism category.

23/07/2024

Coming this Friday from Crystal Lake:
A Reviewer’s Guide to Writing Book Reviews: And How to Get Paid for Them by Rick Hipson: https://getbook.at/ReviewersGuide

Dive into the world of book reviewing with this essential guide, perfect for anyone passionate about sharing their literary discoveries.

Whether your aim is to monetize your reviews, contribute to prestigious publications, or simply enhance your support for beloved authors, this guidebook, infused with Hipson's expert knowledge, is an invaluable resource. This guidebook is packed with practical advice, real-world examples, and actionable tips designed to elevate your review writing skills to a professional level.

Get ready to master the art of impactful book reviewing!

Pre-order today: https://getbook.at/ReviewersGuide

23/07/2024

Cover reveal for Dark Tide 17: CREATURES OF THE NIGHT

Bring out the vampires! Yip, this one is pretty hardcore, so be warned. Cover art by Ben Baldwin. Out August 9th.

“Return of the Blood-Feeders” by Simon Clark: Viking vampires, and their latest vicious recruits, swarm through tunnels beneath the present-day town of Leppington. The Norse gods have created a Vampyrrhic army to wreak vengeance on people that turned their backs on Odin. Just two fragile humans stand in their way—a down-at-heel drifter who is struggling to recover from a severe head injury, and a dreamer with a drink problem. Together, they must become extraordinary. Together, they must defeat something that is much, much worse than vampires.

‘Return of the Blood-Feeders’ is set in the world of Simon’s Vampyrrhic series of novels.

“Perspective” by Kevin J. Kennedy (Kevin Kennedy): "This is a story of my re-awakening, and vampires." A couple's lives are thrown into turmoil when a body is dumped at their door. The vampires are catapulted into a blood-drenched journey to the gates of hell. Fortunately, they have some werewolf friends who want to come along for the ride.

“Beneath Still Waters” by Gord Rollo: On May 16, 2020, disaster struck the small Canadian mining town of Beckley, Nova Scotia. An explosion deep in Shaft 3 unleashed a massive torrent of water from an underground stream, quickly flooding the lower levels and dooming the workers below. Sixty-five people lost their lives that night, the tragedy one of the worst mining disasters in the province’s history. The Red Spruce Gypsum Mine would never reopen.

The town tried to turn the heartbreak into something positive, converting the flooded quarry into a natural swimming hole for people to cool off in during the hot summer months. But something has awakened from within the abandoned mine shafts and staked its territory in the deepest part of the lake. Something ancient. Something savage. Something hungry…

22/07/2024

This week's featured BESTIARY OF BLOOD author is Edward Martin III! Bestiary of Blood will be out in October from Crystal Lake. Edited by Jamal Hodge.

From the author: "I don't want to spoil anything, so I hope to be enticingly vague. One of the animals I chose is an animal I have always admired, one of the few animals who deliberately and specifically makes the greatest sacrifice possible. The other animal I chose is an animal that I think reveals humanity's split f**ked-uppedness more than any other, an animal we both worship and revile, to our credit and shame."

Author bio: Beneath the sullen boughs of brooding northwest forests, below the ocean’s frigid thermocline, high above the desert floor, and racing between rivers of molten lava, Edward Martin III tries his very best to write what he knows.

He is the author of The Blood-Red Night of Hatchet Valley; The Violet Furnace; Terror Stories from the Territories; Blood, Tooth, & Claw; Tales from the Blinkspace; Fully Functional; and more. In addition to writing books, he’s written and directed films such as The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath, Flesh of my Flesh, and The Dead.

21/07/2024

What a wonderful review for the brand new POE & I novel by Matthew Mercier: "What a wonderful read! Beautiful, haunting and atmospheric, and an absolute trove of Easter Eggs for all Poe fans, too! I absolutely loved this, and highly recommend it! xXx" - Fiona Clements-Russell

20/07/2024

Cover reveal for DRAAKENSKY by Paula Cappa!

Oh, you are going to LOVE this novel. Artwork by Joanna Halerz. Out 27 September from Crystal Lake.

A murder. A wind sorcerer. A dark spirit. On Draakensky, magick dictates destiny.

19/07/2024

It's book launch day!

Out today from Matthew Mercier and Crystal Lake Publishing:
https://getbook.at/Poe

Welcome to Poe Cottage… Would you like a tour?

Jonah Peabody takes a job as caretaker and docent for the last home of Edgar Allan Poe in The Bronx, but from the moment he moves into Poe’s Basement—where the caretaker must live—he finds himself also living inside a Poe story, stalked by a man who seems to be his doppelganger and who seeks revenge for past misdeeds.

Jonah claims to be hunting for his lost sister, but as the narrative shifts between past and present, it’s clear that he’s not telling us the entire story. What is he hiding and why?

Haunted by the violent ghosts of his own family and Poe himself, Jonah must reconcile with his dark past before the dual shadow of guilt and grief buries him alive. Living in Poe’s Basement might just be his last chance at redemption.

The author himself lived in Poe Cottage many and many a year ago, and Poe & I is loosely based on that experience. But don’t take our word for it. Listen to some praise from Mr. Mercier’s own literary double, Matthew Pearl, author of ‘The Poe Shadow:’
“Years ago, Matthew was the caretaker at the Poe Cottage in the Bronx and gave me a memorable tour, patiently answering my rambling questions. Now, in Poe and I, Matthew writes the novel that only he can, bringing us into the world of a fictional Poe Cottage caretaker who takes a stunning, jolting, absurd journey of self-discovery while immersing us in Poe lore. A unique and captivating tale worthy of the legacy of Poe.”

This is a story that’s wild, funny, irreverent, terrifying, and soaked in melancholy, a tale of family darkness, sickness, revenge, and weird museums of unholy treasures.

If you want to find out what happens when you live in Poe’s Basement, pick up a copy of Poe & I.

Explore the Dark Depths: https://getbook.at/Poe

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths (join the Crystal Lake journey for bonus content, special offers, in-depth articles from our authors, giveaways, and quite a few free eBooks: http://eepurl.com/xfuKP)

19/07/2024

Cool new review for today's brand new POE & I novel:

"I don’t think there’s any way to accurately reflect the whirls and eddies (heheh) of this book, but if you love modern gothic mysteries told with charm and care, definitely give this one a look."

Read the rest here:

Welcome to Poe Cottage… Would you like a tour? Jonah Peabody takes a job as caretaker and docent for the last home of Edgar Allan Poe in The Bronx, but from the moment he moves into Poe’s Basement—where the caretaker must live—he finds himself also living inside a Poe story, stalked by a man...

19/07/2024

Happy book launch day to Matthew Mercier!

17/07/2024

Coming this Friday!

16/07/2024

This week's featured BESTIARY OF BLOOD author is Cynthia Pelayo!
Bestiary of Blood will be out in October from Crystal Lake Entertainment. Edited by Jamal Hodge.

From the author: "I chose the nightingale because it sings such a pretty song, but it sings it at night. I just love that this beautiful song is sung at night."

Author bio: Cynthia Pelayo is a Bram Stoker Award and International Latino Book Award winning author. She lives in Chicago with her family.

15/07/2024

Coming this Friday! If you're a huge Poe fan, like me, then you don't want to miss this one. But also...

"You don't need to be a Poe fan to be caught up in this marvelous magical mystical tour, but, to be sure, the more you know about Poe and his works, the more you'll appreciate and applaud how inventively and slyly Mercier constructs his dark storytelling web."—Mark Dawidziak

Pre-order Today (paperback and hardcover out early!): https://getbook.at/Poe

14/07/2024

🔥KINDLE PRE-ORDER IS LIVE! - https://getbook.at/NickGenesis
✝️THE EXORCIST’S HOUSE: GENESIS😈

Description:
“In chasing devils, all roads lead to Hell.”

1967: A brutal murder occurs at the Weston State Hospital in West Virginia. To amateur exorcist, Merle Blatty, this shocking story rings of the occult. Fueled by a desire to avenge the deaths of his wife and son, Merle investigates the case, unknowingly stepping into a sinister web spanning decades.

1997: It’s been three years since the Hill family left the nightmares of the farm behind them. Alice is off to college while Daniel and Nora are closer than ever, living in Ohio and raising their three-year-old daughter, Maren. Their high hopes for the future are quickly extinguished when they receive a call, learning of a plan by Adam, Daniel’s brother, to purchase the exorcist's former property and stage an Amityville-inspired haunting to profit from the story.

By alternating past and present narratives, The Exorcist’s House: Genesis is a multi-generational odyssey through Hell, giving birth to a new breed of horror.

14/07/2024

It has begun! THE EXORCIST HOUSE: GENESIS is on on Kindle pre-order. Paperback to come. ;-)

12/07/2024

Free Amazon ads course for all the authors/editors in the house: https://crystallake--rocket.thrivecart.com/publisher-rocket/5da9eae7a2e46/

This is the 2.0 version for those who have already done it in the past. Publisher Rocket got a great update a few days ago.

Learn how to setup and create profitable book advertisements on Amazon.

12/07/2024

It's coming...

Check out the amazing early reviews on Goodreads (remember to add it): https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216285382

Pre-order coming next week!

In chasing devils, all roads lead to Hell. 1967: A bru…

11/07/2024

These Crystal Lake titles are now on sale for only 99c each!

-The Village of C by Adam Millard: https://getbook.at/VillageOfC
-The Bedmakers by Chad Lutzke and John Boden: https://getbook.at/Bedmakers
-The Devil’s Backbone by Ronald Kelly, Laurel Hightower-Wells, and Red Lagoe: https://geni.us/Appalachian
-Lost Highways (anthology by Rio Youers, Joe R Lansdale, Josh Malerman, Damien Angelica Walters, Jonathan Janz, and many more): http://getbook.at/LostHighways

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths (join the Crystal Lake journey for bonus content, special offers, in-depth articles from our authors, giveaways, and quite a few free eBooks): http://eepurl.com/xfuKP

08/07/2024

Please welcome Jacque Day Pallone to the Crystal Lake team. Jacque will step in as Publisher's Assistant, a much, MUCH needed position. Her appointment will free up some of my time as I take Crystal Lake into brand new waters over the next few months.

Jacque Day is co-editor of the Carnage House horror web ‘zine and a freelancer for Memento Mori Ink Magazine, a Crystal Lake Entertainment partner. She lives in her home state of Pennsylvania, USA, with her scientist husband, and edits the HWA Pennsylvania chapter newsletter. Jacque served as the longtime managing editor for the New Madrid journal of contemporary literature.

08/07/2024

Will GHOSTLAND be welcome in your home?

Crystal Lake Games launches later this year! Together with game designers John Cohn and Duncan Ralston (and the team at Red 23), we're creating an extremely fun and terrifying board game based on Ralston's highly entertaining GHOSTLAND novel: https://mailchi.mp/4329880fcdbf/crystal-lake-games

This will be the first of many games from Crystal Lake. Don’t miss out!

05/07/2024

Out today from Jasper Bark and Crystal Lake Publishing!

Draw You In Vol.3: Behind the Mask is the explosive finale to this mind-bending trilogy:
https://geni.us/DrawYouIn3

Is the whole of history a convenient lie?

That’s how it’s beginning to look to Linda, Richard and Agent McPherson as they hunt for Tales That Draw You In, cartoonist R. L. Carver’s legendary lost work. The key to finding it could lie in a memory Linda’s repressed, from when she was a captive of the serial killer Henry McLaughlin.

The sinister cabal known as the Shadows in the Cave is also keen to retrieve Linda’s memory. Their reasons are linked to a military compound in the Chihuahuan desert and a clandestine psychic espionage program. Linda, Richard and McPherson learn that more than their own lives hang in the balance. The program’s terrible purpose could bring about the end of the world as we know it.

Described as “Kavalier and Clay meets Clive Barker,” it contains stories within stories that explore horror in all its subgenres, from quiet to psychological horror, from hardcore to cosmic horror.

Experience the epic conspiracy thriller that redefines the genre for a new generation.

Explore the Dark Depths: https://geni.us/DrawYouIn3

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths (join the Crystal Lake journey for bonus content, special offers, in-depth articles from our authors, giveaways, and quite a few free eBooks: http://eepurl.com/xfuKP)

05/07/2024

The first review is in for today's DRAW YOU IN VOL.3 release. I've said it before etc. etc. This trilogy is truly not to be missed! - https://geni.us/DrawYouIn3

05/07/2024

Set your alarms, folks! Jasper Bark will go live on his personal page at 6:15pm EST today. And we're giving away a paperback bundle of his Bark Bites Horror books. And a few eBooks. These live sessions with Jasper are always entertaining and fun. Why else would I stay up after 1am to watch this? :-)

04/07/2024

Author Chaz Williams won last month’s contest, and taken up the challenge to host this month. Here’s his theme:
“It’s gonna be a wet, hot summer this year. Which means kids and counselors alike are out to have fun at camp, unaware of the horrors that lurk in the shadows of the forest. Has a sadistic couple stumbled upon a new camp that’s just opened? Is there a supernatural being ready to claim its pound of flesh? Or maybe it’s a curse on the grounds of the camp that will rain havoc down on all those who stand upon it. Let your imagination run wild so we never want to see a summer camp again!”

Before we get to the submission guidelines, please know that only the top 15 to 20 stories will be posted on our Patreon page for our patrons to vote on. The winner will receive $0.03 per word, publication in an upcoming Hotel Macabre anthology, and an Author Spotlight on our newsletter and Patreon page. The second-place winner will receive $0.02 a word, and the third place winner $0.01 per word. The winner will also have the option of hosting the following month’s contest for an additional $50.

Submission guidelines: https://www.patreon.com/posts/theme-for-this-107320580

03/07/2024

Out this Friday! - https://geni.us/DrawYouIn3

Remember to grab book 1 first: https://geni.us/DrawYouIn1

Do. Not. Miss. This. Trilogy!!!
I never overuse exclamation marks, so you know I'm being very serious here. ;-)

03/07/2024

16 hours to go before the campaign ends: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/monstrous-books/joe-ledger-violin - 104% funded.

New York Times bestselling author Jonathan Maberry delivers an action-packed graphic novel featuring Joe Ledger and Violin from his popular series of techno-thrillers.

02/07/2024

It's BESTIARY OF BLOOD time again! This week's featured contributor is Geneve Flynn!
Bestiary of Blood will be out in October from Crystal Lake Entertainment. Edited by Jamal Hodge.

From the author:
"I chose a grasshopper because I’d previously stumbled upon the myth of the polong and pelesit while researching for a story and it set off sparks in my brain. The grasshopper also seems like such an innocuous creature, and my favourite type of horror takes something commonplace and harmless, and transforms it into something grotesque."

Author bio: Geneve Flynn is a speculative fiction editor, author, and poet. Winner of two Bram Stoker Awards, a Shirley Jackson Award, an Aurealis Award, a Brave New Weird Award and recipient of the 2022 Queensland Writers Fellowship. Her work has been nominated and short/longlisted for the British Fantasy, Locus, Ditmar, Australian Shadows, Elgin, and Rhysling Awards, and the Pushcart Prize.
Co-editor (with celebrated author/editor Lee Murray) of Black Cranes: Tales of Unquiet Women, the dark fiction anthology which launched the grassroots movement in Asian women’s horror writing in 2020. Collaborator (with Lee Murray, Christina Sng, and Angela Yuriko Smith) of the internationally acclaimed dark poetry collection, Tortured Willows: Bent, Bowed, Unbroken.
Her work has been published by Crystal Lake Publishing, PS Publishing, Flame Tree Publishing, PseudoPod, and Written Backwards. Geneve serves on the Horror Writers Association’s Diverse Works Inclusion Committee. She is Chinese, born in Malaysia, and now calls Australia home.
Read more at www.geneveflynn.com.au.

02/07/2024

We're funded!

Congrats to the Crystal Lake Comics team and all the artists. Big thank you to James Aquilone and Jonathan Maberry. First of many comic book projects to come. Super thanks to everyone who backed our project.

And there's still time left. Don't miss out: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/monstrous-books/joe-ledger-violin

01/07/2024

Almost there. Only a few hundred dollars to go! - https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/monstrous-books/joe-ledger-violin