Joe Mynhardt - Crystal Lake CEO

01/11/2024

31/10/2024

Here are the results for Crystal Lake's latest flash fiction writing contest:
1st: “The Lady in Granite” by Jyl Glenn
2nd: “Play With Me!” by Denver Wheeler
3rd: “A Mother’s Heart” by Mel Kitching

The next theme will be announced in a few days. ;-)

30/10/2024

Great news! Del Howison’s upcoming collection with Crystal Lake, WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS, will be part of a Book Box subscription from Pandi Press early next year. Click here to subscribe for your PandiPack: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/pandipress/pandi-press-book-box?ref=cyvjfr

30/10/2024

Cover Reveal for my brand new series of horror anthologies: HOTEL MACABRE VOL.1: TALES OF HORROR - out December 13th on paperback and eBook (special hardcover edition coming in 2025)

Here's the line-up, which includes short stories, poetry, flash fiction, a play, an exclusive link to a dramatic reading (by the highly entertaining Jasper Bark), a novella, and even two comic book sections. This is where horror meets innovation:
The Cage by Alessandro Manzetti
For Beth by Derek Odom
Anatomy of a Killer by Wil Dalton
Scritch, Scritch, Scritch by A.K. McCarthy
Night of Fevers by John Claude Smith
Room 636 by Bridgett Nelson
Summer People by Tom Deady
Wendigo Hunter by Colleen Anderson
Chain Smoking at Bus Stops by Devin M. Anderson
The Birdcage by Michael Lawrence
The Empath by John Palisano
Do Not Tempt Her with Apples by Diana Olney
The Lingering Taste of Your Last Supper by Matthew R. Davis
The Fear of Missing Out by Dylan Wells
Day Tripper by John Meachen
This Was Not the End We Were Promised by Maxwell Ian Gold
—in case the chloroform wears off by Jennifer Osborn
A Message from the Past, A Message from the Future by Jonathan Gensler
Burial Day by Stephanie M. Wytovich
Saving Face by Sean Eads and Josh Viola
Nothing Funny About a Clown After Midnight by Mark Allan Gunnells
Suspension by Brandon Wills
Hello by Karen Bayly
Philly’s Little Boy by Linda D Addison
A dramatic video reading of “Taking the Piss” by Jasper Bark
Ashes in Wood by Jonathan Winn
All We Endure by Grant Longstaff
On a Swing by Patrick Malka
Hell Come Home by Amanda M. Blake
A Clown at Midnight by Mia Dalia
Growing Gardens by Nick Roberts and Chrissy Winters
Unsolicited Advice from a Witch Who’s Been There by Diana Olney
Batsquatch Lives! by Larry Hinkle
The Red Tent by Chris Phelon
All the Children are Inside by Jamal Hodge
Smile by Robin Brown
Goodbeak by Gregg Stewart
Vultures by Naching T. Kassa
The Hug by Gary McMahon
The Dullahan’s Reckoning by Claire Davon
The Little Thief by Esteban Vargas
Check-In/Check-out by Pixie Bruner

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake—Where Stories Come Alive!

30/10/2024

New series (and genre) coming to Crystal Lake in 2025!

Here is the first of many 2025 moves we'll be making at Crystal Lake. I know Mafia Romance isn't our usual genre, but Jessica Hall's work comes HIGHLY recommended by fans and Crystal Lake staff. Horror will always remain our first love, but by the end of next year it'll all come down to great stories, no matter the genre. We've acquired the paperback and audiobook rights for Jessica's The Empire of Chance trilogy, which will be out in January, followed by books 2 and 3 a month or so apart.

Description: Returning home after work, Fallon walks into a nightmare: her father unconscious, their home invaded, and her sister teetering on the edge of death. Driven by desperation, their father had attempted the unthinkable—robbing the casino owned by Leone Pressutti, her boss.

Leone Pressutti, a notorious mob boss, instils fear in anyone who crosses him. For five years Fallon has gone unnoticed by him…until now. Caught in the aftermath, she is presented with a chilling ultimatum: compete and win a high-stakes poker game, and he will cover her sister’s medical expenses.

The penalty for losing? Her father's life and her freedom. As she nears the last table, Fallon is drawn into a game far more complex than ever imagined.

The final hurdle? A showdown against Leone himself, where she learns the bitter truth: in this game of power and seduction, the house always wins.

29/10/2024

Any GQ fans in the house? Crystal Lake Publishing has received A LOT of attention since Bob Dylan tweeted about us. I'm even being interviewed by journalists/magazines/newspapers I've only heard about in movies.

Here's an article about the tweet. So nice to see Crystal Lake mentioned by name (and yes, we've reached out to his management team; now we wait):

The legendary, Nobel Prize-winning singer-songwriter is treating social media like his personal lyric book.

28/10/2024

Don't forget Crystal Lake Publishing's Halloween book sale!

The following Crystal Lake titles are only each! The sale ends the moment November strikes: https://www.crystallakepub.com/halloween-sale-2024/
-It Haunts the Mind by Nick Roberts
-Unspeakable Horror: Dark Rainbow Rising
-Against the Clock: Tales of Mystery and Suspense
-Somnium by Deirdre Swinden
-String Them Up by William Sterling
-Vandal: Stories of Damage
-Dark and Lonely Water by Graeme Reynolds
-Night Belongs to Us by Jess Landry
-Wounds to Wishes: Tales of Mystery and Melancholy
-Classic Monsters Unleashed (anthology)
-Live Wire by Kyle Toucher by Kyle Toucher
-The Headless Boy by Kelli Owen
-Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories
-An Unholy Triquetra: Celtic Fairy Tales
-The Dead Shall Rise: Zombie Zombie Zombie
-The Morass by Zachary Ashford
-The Thing in the Wind by Bill Mullen
-October Nights: Three Body Horror Novellas
-Little Mutilations: Three body horror novellas
-Shakespeare Unleashed (Anthology)

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.

Find all these titles listed here: https://www.crystallakepub.com/halloween-sale-2024/

The following Crystal Lake horror books are on sale this Halloween for only 99c!

26/10/2024

"...one of my favorite books." - Bob Dylan

A few days ago Bob Dylan (yes, the actual Bob Dylan tweeting from his own account, which he took over end of September) mentioned Crystal Lake in a tweet, talking about an Arthur Machen story we revamped and published (image also attached). The eBook is on our website: https://www.crystallakepub.com/product/the-great-god-pan-ebook/
And the paperback on Amazon: http://getbook.at/GodPan
Of course we weren't there, but we had some agents representing our books at the Frankfurt Book Festival.

It's been an incredible experience, and naturally the book is also selling well, which is always great. We've reached out to Bob's team, so the ball is now in their court. I'm pretty sure we'd all love to read those stories. Plus, who doesn't love a great underdog story? Whatever happens, this has been pretty cool. I'm getting a lot of emails from journalists for our response. I'm also going to use this momentum to pick up a bit of steam on a few new projects I've got lined up (especially locally, since it's pretty big news for a small company based in South Africa). Crystal Lake is going places, folks. And no-one knows that more than my team, because next year is going to blow your minds. ;-)

26/10/2024

Number 3 and riding our way to the top with Keith Lansdale, Michael Knost, and James Aquilone! Pick up your copy. ;-)

25/10/2024

It’s Book Launch Day at Crystal Lake! Blood and Bullets (Dark Tide 18): https://getbook.at/DarkTide18

Prepare yourself for a chilling journey through the American frontier with Blood and Bullets, an anthology featuring three gripping novellas that blend horror, paranormal elements, and the harsh realities of the Old West.

“American Devil” by James Aquilone: In a suspenseful twist on historical horror, Randall Bond, a determined psychic bounty hunter, faces his most daunting challenge yet: capturing H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer, who has escaped from prison. With dark forces at play and the line between predator and prey blurring, Bond must navigate a treacherous landscape where the hunt turns into a battle for survival.

“The Deadwood Deal” by Michael Knost: Dive into the shadows of Wild Bill Hickok’s final moments in The Deadwood Deal. Michael Knost unravels the hidden truths behind Jack McCall’s infamous act of betrayal, revealing the dark and supernatural forces that orchestrated the tragic fate of one of the most legendary gunfighters of the Old West. This tale of vengeance and dark partnership will leave you questioning the true nature of evil.

“Elijah’s Elixir” by Keith Lansdale: Elijah’s quest for easy money takes a sinister turn in Elijah’s Elixir. Joined by Rose, a tarot reader with a troubled past, and Luther, an enigmatic companion, Elijah finds himself entangled in a web of supernatural mystery and personal demons. As they unravel the secrets of a strange town and confront their own haunted pasts, they discover that nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Blood and Bullets brings together dark, action-packed stories that push the boundaries of Western fiction with supernatural and horror elements. Perfect for fans of paranormal Westerns and gritty, suspenseful narratives, this anthology offers a unique blend of historical intrigue and supernatural terror.

Explore the Old West: https://getbook.at/DarkTide18
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219152932-blood-and-bullets

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)

25/10/2024

Happy book launch day to Michael Knost, James Aquilone, and Keith Lansdale!

25/10/2024

The following Crystal Lake titles are only each! The sale ends the moment November strikes: https://www.crystallakepub.com/halloween-sale-2024/

-It Haunts the Mind by Nick Roberts
-Unspeakable Horror: Dark Rainbow Rising
-Against the Clock: Tales of Mystery and Suspense
-Somnium by Deirdre Swinden
-String Them Up by William Sterling
-Vandal: Stories of Damage
-Dark and Lonely Water by Graeme Reynolds
-Night Belongs to Us by Jess Landry
-Wounds to Wishes: Tales of Mystery and Melancholy
-Classic Monsters Unleashed (Anthology)
-Live Wire by Kyle Toucher by Kyle Toucher
-The Headless Boy by Kelli Owen
-Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories
-An Unholy Triquetra: Celtic Fairy Tales
-The Dead Shall Rise: Zombie Zombie Zombie
-The Morass by Zachary Ashford
-The Thing in the Wind by Bill Mullen
-October Nights: Three Body Horror Novellas
-Little Mutilations: Three body horror novellas
-Shakespeare Unleashed (Anthology)

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.

Find all these titles listed here: https://www.crystallakepub.com/halloween-sale-2024/

24/10/2024

The Dylan saga continues (now they're asking me to do an interview on my reaction; I'm still reacting):

Have you heard the one about a stone rolling into a book fair, and leaving a complete unknown? Bob Dylan, music icon and Chalamet look-alike, is currently on a European tour and happened to find hi…

24/10/2024

Help us track down Bob Dylan! :-)

This certainly is a great way to start the day. But no worries, I have agents hunting him down in France, as well as his agents/managers in the UK and US. And we've been tagged in quite a few replies. Keep the conversation going so he doesn't forget about Crystal Lake: https://twitter.com/bobdylan/status/1849178408443339018

23/10/2024

Paperback and hardcover out early!

Prepare yourself for a chilling journey through the American frontier with Blood and Bullets, an anthology featuring three gripping novellas that blend horror, paranormal elements, and the harsh realities of the Old West.

“American Devil” by James Aquilone: In a suspenseful twist on historical horror, Randall Bond, a determined psychic bounty hunter, faces his most daunting challenge yet: capturing H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer, who has escaped from prison. With dark forces at play and the line between predator and prey blurring, Bond must navigate a treacherous landscape where the hunt turns into a battle for survival.

“The Deadwood Deal” by Michael Knost: Dive into the shadows of Wild Bill Hickok’s final moments in The Deadwood Deal. Michael Knost unravels the hidden truths behind Jack McCall’s infamous act of betrayal, revealing the dark and supernatural forces that orchestrated the tragic fate of one of the most legendary gunfighters of the Old West. This tale of vengeance and dark partnership will leave you questioning the true nature of evil.

“Elijah’s Elixir” by Keith Lansdale: Elijah’s quest for easy money takes a sinister turn in Elijah’s Elixir. Joined by Rose, a tarot reader with a troubled past, and Luther, an enigmatic companion, Elijah finds himself entangled in a web of supernatural mystery and personal demons. As they unravel the secrets of a strange town and confront their own haunted pasts, they discover that nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Blood and Bullets brings together dark, action-packed stories that push the boundaries of Western fiction with supernatural and horror elements. Perfect for fans of paranormal Westerns and gritty, suspenseful narratives, this anthology offers a unique blend of historical intrigue and supernatural terror.

Order Today: https://getbook.at/DarkTide18
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219152932-blood-and-bullets

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)

21/10/2024

The Cowboys are coming! Out this Friday.

Prepare yourself for a chilling journey through the American frontier with Blood and Bullets, an anthology featuring three gripping novellas that blend horror, paranormal elements, and the harsh realities of the Old West.

“American Devil” by James Aquilone: In a suspenseful twist on historical horror, Randall Bond, a determined psychic bounty hunter, faces his most daunting challenge yet: capturing H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer, who has escaped from prison. With dark forces at play and the line between predator and prey blurring, Bond must navigate a treacherous landscape where the hunt turns into a battle for survival.

“The Deadwood Deal” by Michael Knost: Dive into the shadows of Wild Bill Hickok’s final moments in The Deadwood Deal. Michael Knost unravels the hidden truths behind Jack McCall’s infamous act of betrayal, revealing the dark and supernatural forces that orchestrated the tragic fate of one of the most legendary gunfighters of the Old West. This tale of vengeance and dark partnership will leave you questioning the true nature of evil.

“Elijah’s Elixir” by Keith Lansdale: Elijah’s quest for easy money takes a sinister turn in Elijah’s Elixir. Joined by Rose, a tarot reader with a troubled past, and Luther, an enigmatic companion, Elijah finds himself entangled in a web of supernatural mystery and personal demons. As they unravel the secrets of a strange town and confront their own haunted pasts, they discover that nothing is ever as simple as it seems.

Blood and Bullets brings together dark, action-packed stories that push the boundaries of Western fiction with supernatural and horror elements. Perfect for fans of paranormal Westerns and gritty, suspenseful narratives, this anthology offers a unique blend of historical intrigue and supernatural terror.

Pre-order on Kindle: https://getbook.at/DarkTide18 (paperback, hardcover, and KU to come)
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219152932-blood-and-bullets

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)

20/10/2024

Here's a video snippet from the Final Girls interview with author Elaine Pascale: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/w8iV18Gt7N8

You can listen to the full Shadows & Ink podcast episode here: https://shadowsandink.podbean.com/e/final-girls-protagonist-or-problematic/

In this episode we are talking about the classic horror trope, The Final Girl, with author and horror fan Elaine Pascale. Come join us as we go in depth on final girl origins and what makes that trope tick. Elaine's Website: https://elainepascale.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doclaney/ An...