The Lurkers in the Abyss & Other Tales of Terror - update

Things are moving along quite smoothly for the publication of my short story collection in October by Shadow Publishing. Cover artwork has been commission by Dave Sutton for my artist of choice, Paul Mudie, whose fantastic paintings have graced the covers of all the Black Books of Horror.

After some discussion it now looks as if Paul will be basing his painting on my story Fish-Eye, which is possibly the most Lovecraftian one in the book (it was first published in the Lovecraft eZine) with my own turn on the Deep Ones.

The Unspoken edited by William Meikle - my review

Although this is a charity anthology, don't be misled into thinking any of the stories are castoffs. From writers like Tim Lebbon, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Steven Savile, Steve Lockley, John Shirley, Anna Taborska, Stephen James Price, Scott Nicholson, Stephen Laws, Nancy Kilpatrick, Barbie Wilde, Johnny Mains, Guy N. Smith, Pete Crowther, Steve Duffy, William Meikle and Gary McMahon that just isn't going to happen. There isn't a second rate story here.

And, though cancer is an underlying theme, there is a great variety in what we are offered, from true physical horror, science fiction, fantasy, to psychological horror of a high order.

Indeed, for me the highlight of the collection is a psychological horror story. Photographs of Boden by Simon Kurt Unsworth is a gem that would shine out in any anthology. Boden's memories of himself, his character, his past history, are undermined as family photographs are corrupted by some unknown force. Or are they? In his memories it was always his sister who managed to spoil every family event with her selfishness, endlessly arguing and sulking over everything that didn't suit her own wishes. Subtly, though, their roles appear to be being reversed, not only now, but at every event that Boden can remember. Even his own memories become corrupted by this metamorphosis. It is a frightening story, undermining the past - and the present. It's a story that has lingered with me ever since.

Polyp by Barbie Wilde is another standout story. Crazy, gut wrenchingly horrible, it is one of the wackiest tales I have read in a long while.

Pete Crowther's Cankerman, on the other hand, is a story of loss and self sacrifice, and is touchingly poignant. The Cankerman is a horrific creation, genuinely the stuff of nightmares but sometimes the human spirit - and love - can face up to and challenge, if not totally defeat even the worst thing that can be thrown at us.

Johnny Mains is well known for his over the top horrors, often written with a blood-soaked tongue in his cheek. The Cure is surely one of his most horrible yet, a strange story of what could be described as medical malpractice taken to its nth degree. I can guarantee you won't forget this one easily.

Though these are my own particular favourites, there are plenty of others that are almost as good, which other readers would probably like even more.

All profits from this book will go to the Beatson Cancer Research Institute and I am proud to have a story of my own in it.

kindle edition UK 
kindle edition USA

Cancer Charity Anthology The Unspoken edited by William Meikle

This charity anthology is available now via kindle for £2.88 at Amazon.co.uk and at Amazon.com

Contents are:


Ramsey Campbell – Introduction
Tim Lebbon – Just Breathe
Simon Kurt Unsworth – Photographs of Boden
Steven Savile & Steve Lockley – The Last Gift
John Shirley – Where the Market’s Hottest
Anna Taborska – Underbelly
Stephen James Price – Pages of Promises
Scott Nicholson – Heal Thyself
Stephen Laws – Harbinger
William Meikle – The Unfinished Basement
Nancy Kilpatrick – Alien Love
David A. Riley – A Girl, a Toad and a Cask
Barbie Wilde – Polyp
Johnny Mains – The Cure
Guy N Smith – The Big One
Pete Crowther – Cankerman
Steve Duffy – X for Henrietta
Gary McMahon – Bitter Soup
Edited by William Meikle
Cover art by Simon Marshall Jones

The book is being published by Karoshi Books, first as an ebook, followed by a POD paperback. All profits go to The Beatson Cancer Research Institute.

Under the Knife edited by Kevin G. Bufton

This anthology from Cruentus Libri, edited by Kevin G. Bufton, is now available via Amazon at £6.99 (print version) and £1.34 (kindle).

It includes my science fiction horror story Winter on Aubarch 6 which was originally published in 1989 in Fear magazine.

Dark Discoveries

Just received the latest issue of Dark Discoveries in the post this morning - and it's even bigger than ever. This is one magazine that definitely looks to be improving all the time. Pleased to see, too, that Hazardous Press have an advert in it, including for my collection of short stories, His Own Mad Demons.

I'll be doing a review of the magazine later as soon as I have managed to read it, though at over 100 A4 pages that's going to take a couple of days.

Cancer Research Charity Anthology - The Unspoken edited by William Meikle

The cancer research charity anthology, The Unspoken, edited by William Meikle is finally, after a few ups and down, scheduled to be published in the near future by Karoshi Books, first of all as an ebook, followed by a POD paperback. All profits will go to The Beatson Cancer Research Institute.

The anthology includes:

• Ramsey Campbell - Introduction
• Tim Lebbon - Just Breathe
• Simon Kurt Unsworth - Photographs of Boden
• Steven Savile & Steve Lockley - The Last Gift
• John Shirley - Where the Market's Hottest
• Anna Taborska - Underbelly
• Stephen James Price - Pages of Promises
• Scott Nicholson - Heal Thyself
• Stephen Laws - Harbinger
• William Meikle - The Unfinished Basement
• Nancy Kilpatrick - Alien Love
• David A. Riley - A Girl, a Toad and a Cask
• Barbie Wilde - Polyp
• Johnny Mains - The Cure
• Guy N Smith - The Big One
• Pete Crowther - Cankerman
• Steve Duffy - X for Henrietta
• Gary McMahon - Bitter Soup


• Edited by William Meikle
• Cover art by Simon Marshall Jones