Read 2020 - 23 - Terror Tales of Northwest England

I have a story in this book.

I've read this book.

I'm all about this book.

The anthology is a series of short stories by various authors interspersed with folklore, written by Paul Finch. Paul also edited the anthology and it is published by Telos. My story, The Mute Swan, is set in Wallasey, and is about a girl who can't find her voice and a deranged and narcissistic ballet teacher.

I'm going to cheat and highlight my favourite story in the anthology - it's by Simon Bestwick, who just happens to be my husband, and yes, I may be a little biased.

And sometimes - sometimes it's what's down there that finds a way out. Below is set in lost streets and tunnels below Manchester, and it's absolutely fantastic. It's an atmospheric, terrifying, character-driven piece.

You can pick it up at Amazon.

The Mute Swan

I am delighted to announce that my story The Mute Swan set in my lovely town of Wallasey and New Brighton will appear in Paul Finch's Terror Tales series, Terror Tales of Northwest England.

The anthology (available to pre-order from Amazon) due out on October 1st features stories by Simon Bestwick, Stephen Gallagher, Ramsey Campbell, Paul Finch, Anna Taborska, Simon Kurt Unsworth and John Travis, amongst others.

Here is an extract from my story:

Carys screamed.

Feathers rained from the costume, carpeting the floor with swan. Carys tore at the dress, at the bodice too tight for her expanding frame. The tips of the feathers pricked her arms, as if inking a message on skin, transforming it. Scream hitched against her throat. She coughed blood onto the bones of the dress. If she snapped the bodice, it would cover her front, her burgeoning chest, but little else. She stretched her neck. The scream would not stop.

British Fantasy Awards 2019

CONGRATULATIONS! to the nominees of this years British Fantasy Awards. You guys rock! (especially my double-nominated little husband)

Best Fantasy Novel (the Robert Holdstock Award)
The Bitter Twins, by Jen Williams (Headline)
Empire of Sand, by Tasha Suri (Orbit)
Foundryside, by Robert Jackson Bennett (Jo Fletcher Books)
The Green Man’s Heir, by Juliet E McKenna (Wizard’s Tower Press)
The Loosening Skin, by Aliya Whiteley (Unsung Stories)
Priest of Bones, by Peter McLean (Jo Fletcher Books)

Best Horror Novel (the August Derleth Award)
The Cabin at the End of the World, by Paul Tremblay (Titan Books)
Little Eve, by Catriona Ward (W&N)
The Way of the Worm, by Ramsey Campbell (PS Publishing)
Wolf’s Hill, by Simon Bestwick (Snowbooks)

Best Newcomer (the Sydney J Bounds Award)
Tomi Adeyemi, for The Children of Blood and Bone (Macmillan Children’s Books)
Cameron Johnston, for The Traitor God (Angry Robot)
RF Kuang, for The Poppy War (HarperVoyager)
Tasha Suri, for Empire of Sand (Orbit)
Marian Womack, for Lost Objects (Luna Press Publishing)
Micah Yongo, for Lost Gods (Angry Robot)

Best Novella
Binti: The Night Masquerade, by Nnedi Okorafor (Tor.com)
Breakwater, by Simon Bestwick (Tor Books)
The Land of Somewhere Safe, by Hal Duncan (NewCon Press)
The Last Temptation of Dr Valentine, by John Llewellyn Probert (Black Shuck Books)
The Only Harmless Great Thing, by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com)
The Tea Master and the Detective, by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean Press)

Best Short Fiction 
Down Where Sound Comes Blunt, by GV Anderson (F&SF March/April 2018)
Her Blood the Apples, Her Bones the Trees, by Georgina Bruce (The Silent Garden: A Journal of Esoteric Fabulism)
In the Gallery of Silent Screams, by Carole Johnstone & Chris Kelso (Black Static #65)
A Son of the Sea, by Priya Sharma (All the Fabulous Beasts)
Telling Stories, by Ruth EJ Booth (The Dark #43)
Thumbsucker, by Robert Shearman (New Fears 2)

Best Anthology
The Devil and the Deep: Horror Stories of the Sea, ed. Ellen Datlow (Night Shade Books)
Humanagerie, ed. Sarah Doyle & Allen Ashley (Eibonvale Press)
New Fears 2, ed. Mark Morris (Titan Books)
This Dreaming Isle, ed. Dan Coxon (Unsung Stories)
Year’s Best Weird Fiction, Vol. 5, ed. Robert Shearman & Michael Kelly (Undertow Publications)

Best Collection
All the Fabulous Beasts, by Priya Sharma (Undertow Publications)
The Future is Blue, by Catherynne M Valente (Subterranean Press)
How Long ‘til Black Future Month?, by NK Jemisin (Orbit)
Lost Objects, by Marian Womack (Luna Press Publishing)
Octoberland, by Thana Niveau (PS Publishing)
Resonance & Revolt, by Rosanne Rabinowitz (Eibonvale Press)

Best Non-Fiction
The Evolution of African Fantasy and Science Fiction, ed. Francesca T Barbini (Luna Press Publishing)
The Full Lid, by Alasdair Stuart (alasdairstuart.com/the-full-lid)
Ginger Nuts of Horror (www.gingernutsofhorror.com)
Les Vampires, by Tim Major (PS Publishing)
Noise and Sparks, by Ruth EJ Booth (Shoreline of Infinity)

Best Independent Press
Fox Spirit Books
Luna Press Publishing
NewCon Press
Unsung Stories

Best Magazine / Periodical
Black Static
Gingernuts of Horror
Interzone
Shoreline of Infinity
Uncanny Magazine

Best Audio
Bedtime Stories for the End of the World (endoftheworldpodcast.com)
Blood on Satan’s Claw, by Mark Morris (Bafflegab)
Breaking the Glass Slipper (www.breakingtheglassslipper.com)
PodCastle (podcastle.org)
PsuedoPod (pseudopod.org)

Best Comic / Graphic Novel
100 Demon Dialogues, by Lucy Bellwood (Toonhound Studios)
B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth, Vol. 1, by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, Guy Davis, Tyler Crook & Dave Stewart (Dark Horse)
Hellboy: The Complete Short Stories, Vol. 1, by Mike Mignola and others (Dark Horse)
The Prisoner, by Robert S Malan & John Cockshaw (Luna Press Publishing)
Saga #49-54, by Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples (Image Comics)
Widdershins, Vol. 7, by Kate Ashwin

Best Artist
Vince Haig
David Rix
Daniele Serra
Sophie E Tallis

Best Film / Television Production
Annihilation, Alex Garland
Avengers: Infinity War, Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely
Black Panther, Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole
The Haunting of Hill House, Mike Flanagan
Inside No. 9, series 4, Steve Pemberton & Reece Shearsmith
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Phil Lord & Rodney Rothman

Edge Lit 8 (All of the Books)

A week has passed since the awesomeness that was Edge-Lit 8 in Derby. We stayed over two nights this time in the fabulous Premier Inn at Riverlights, which meant that we got to meet up with friends on the Friday night at the Quad.

The following day I attended panels, one workshop (disclaimer - my husband's) and a non-reading, spent time in The Quad bar chatting with friends, went out for a meal with some of said friends, and attended the launch of the anthology The Woods, featuring my story 'The Iron Curve of Thorns'. I had to read. I had five minutes warning and I had to read. It wasn't the greatest performance in the world. It may have been the worst. I survived. I think the audience also did.

Next year, the event is two days. Yay!

Above is my book haul. I've already finished 'The Finite' and am half-way through 'The Woods'.

A Small Convention (for Small People)

It's Edge-Lit 8 weekend and we are, as I type, on our way to sunny Derby. Please be sunny, Derby. As I type is a wee lie as I'm actually typing this the day before in the dis-comfort of my office chair at work. Shush! Don't tell the boss.

 

 

It's going to be a busy weekend (for some - small husband in particular).

 

Here's my schedule (it is also small):

 

 

 

16:00 Cinema One - Multi Publisher Launch

 

Hersham Horror is releasing THE WOODS an anthology containing stories by me, Phil Sloman, Penny Jones, James Everington and Mark West. Also released in the same slot are A LOVE LIKE BLOOD by Simon Bestwick (small husband), which is published by Dark Minds Press, and Cannibal Nuns from Outer Space by Duncan P. Bradshaw, published by Sinister Horror Company.

 

My story is 'The Iron Curve of Thorns'.

 

I'm led to believe that wine and nibbles with be available. I actually fancy a Pina Colada, but that's another story, one that usually involves virgins.

 

 



Scary Children

Suffer Little Children by Penny Jones is part of Black Shuck Books Shadows series - a continuing series of mini collections from some of the hottest, upcoming and established names working in horror fiction today.

And in the tradition of small things (my hubby* is five-one if he's lucky), here is a mini review of the collection:

Penny Jones’ “Suffer Little Children” is a collection of six stories centered around children, the horrors of childhood, and the horrors that are children.

It is very well written, engaging, and sometimes twisty, from the traumatic “Beneath Still Waters” through to the heartbreaking “Waxing”. Coincidentally, they were my favourite stories in a collection that has no duds.

I look forward to reading a longer collection of Penny’s stories in the near-future.

*cheated and put a link in for my hubby's Black Shuck Books** mini-collection (sorry, Penny).

**did it again

Hyde Hotel

The Hyde Hotel, edited by James Everington and Dan Howarth, opened its doors yesterday and it contains my story The Coyote Corporation's Misplaced Song alongside stories by authors such as Simon Bestwick, Alison Littlewood, Ray Cluley, S P Miskowski, Mark West, V H Leslie and others.

Many thanks to James and Dan for inviting me to write for the anthology. You can find it on Amazon.

In other news, there is an interview with one of the contributors, Ray Cluley, over at The Haunted Omnibus.

Two Weeks Later

Some things that may or may not be of interest to you but are of interest to me... In other words, some things that have appeared online in this year of 2014 that concern me. I should title this post THE EGO HAS LANDED but Robbie Williams already used that title and his ego is bigger than mine.

Ann Giardina Magee reviews The Transfiguration of Mister Punch over at BOOZE AND BOOKS and has this to say about my story, This Foolish & Harmful Delight....

Her unique style completely immerses the reader in the terrifying world that she has created where Punch and Judy, as well as all of the other characters, are indeed transfigured. This novella was my favorite of the three....

Pauline Morgan at SF Crowsnest has reviewed Best Fantasy 2013 and here's something of what she had to say about my story, Too Delicate for Human Form...

Cate Gardner’s ‘Too Delicate For Human Form’ is the only recognisable fantasy story but don’t expect swords and elves, just a bit of gentle urban magic.... Although it is an unusual and well-written story it is ultimately unfulfilling and generates more questions than it answers.

Sounds like me. However, here is the review for Simon Bestwick's story Dermot...

‘Dermot’ by Simon Bestwick is a nasty little story but very well-written. It plays on the idea that sometimes the few have to be sacrificed to keep the majority safe... This is the strongest story in anthology and doesn’t pull any punches.

Go, my Bestwick.

And last, but not least (as the saying goes), Paul Kane kindly invited me to be the guest writer over at his website this month and there you will find an extract from my novella, Barbed Wire Hearts.

Hope 2014 is treating you well so far.

I've almost (almost) finished the final draft of my children's novel which remains untitled. Then I'll be burying myself in edits until it's fit to be sent to agents.*

*Agents, you have been warned.

Cereal Murder

Another Twisted Tales event last night. First one in awhile and a bit of a landmark as before snagging the Bestwick, I used to meet him for coffee in Liverpool before Twisted Tales events and then we'd go to the readings.

This time the guests were Adam Nevill (always charming), Stuart MacBride and Steve Mosby. The theme, as you can guess from the poster to the left, was serial killers. Each author read a piece from their books and then David McWilliam hosted a discussion on serial murder, crime and its connection to horror, before opening the questions for the audience to ask the authors.

I haven't read anything by Stuart MacBride or Steve Mosby before so I'm looking forward to checking out their books, especially as I haven't read any crime/thrillers in a wee while. Stares at to read pile. Falls over.

After the event, we went for a meal in China Town with several awesome people including Ramsey & Jenny Campbell, Marie O'Regan, Paul Kane, David McWilliam, Stuart MacBride, Adam Nevill and Glynn Morgan. Lovely food even if I did have a minor spat with the Bestwick over what I was eating because I couldn't make up my mind. I can be annoying. Also good to see Priya Sharma  and Roy Gray again. Hopefully, I haven't missed anyone out.

Actually, food caused me no end of problems yesterday including the death of my porridge. It went splat all over the work kitchen sink. Guess, I'm a cereal killer. You have permission to groan.

Fantasycon in Bullet Points

Last weekend, I attended my very first convention - Fantasycon - and I loved it. Here are some of the things that occurred and helped make it something to remember...


- Simon may never forgive me for making him run from our B&B to the convention hotel because I wanted to attend Rob Shearman's reading. The run included stairs. I will apologise eventually. Maybe. Probably not. It was Rob Shearman after all. I also attended readings by Simon Bestwick (duh!), Alison Littlewood, Gary McMahon, Graham Joyce and Jon Oliver.

- Beware of Graham Joyce and seemingly innocent lists of signatures. Always check under Joyce's thumb. Several writers signed their names to the List of Cunts. Snort.

- An absolute thrill to finally meet Ray Cluley and to discover that his girlfriend, Victoria, is VH Leslie who's had stories published in Black Static. At several points during the weekend I was surrounded by Black Static and Interzone authors. This makes me part of the gang, right? Right? It's almost like having a story within the pages, right? Simon and I went for a meal with Ray and Victoria on the Friday night. A definite highlight of the weekend. The following night we returned to the same restaurant with the brilliant Gary & Emily McMahon. I ate swordfish. This is exotic for me.

- Arriving at a disco via the dance floor when your boyfriend is an extrovert and you are an introvert is scary. I demanded a pint of cider and after a few sips discovered my rhythm - or rather, no longer cared whether or not I had rhythm. I didn't have rhythm.

- Beware of DJs with a wicked sense of humour.

- I can hold my drink. Cue one boyfriend who was slightly less concerned when I demanded he buy me another pint of cider.

- During the British Fantasy Awards the room erupted when Rob Shearman won the award for best collection. Although all the winners received generous applause, the announcement of Rob's win almost brought the hotel down. In fact, I suspect parts of Brighton are still shaking. Adam Nevill got a rapturous applause too. Someone needs to check if the hotel is still standing.

- Despite claiming we would, the Bestwick and I never managed a trip on the big wheel. We ran out of time. It wasn't because we're wimps or that we were still trying to catch our breath after running to Rob Shearman's reading. Although, hearing Soozy Marjoram's report of her experience on the big wheel I'm rather grateful to the beast that stole time.

- Nina Allen is so lovely.

- Alison Littlewood & Fergus are lovely too. But this I already knew. In fact, lots of people were lovely and in some cases bonkers. I appreciate bonkers. Amongst the lovely and the bonkers who I spoke to (leaving out those already mentioned) were Graeme Reynolds, Simon Kurt Unsworth, Jay Eales, Rosie Seymour, Christopher Teague, Rio Youers, Lynda Rucker, Mark West, Selina Lock, Joel Lane, Gary Cole Wilkin, David Price, Simon & Lizzie Marshall Jones, Neil Buchanan, Maura McHugh, and... okay, I've mentioned him before but... Rob Shearman. So, so excited to meet Rob. I don't think it showed though. Apologies to all those I forgot to mention (I have just face palmed)

- Somebody forgot to attend any panels. That would be me. No matter the awesomeness of the Guests of Honour if you get lost in Alice in Wonderland corridors you'll never find your way to their interview. Oops! In fact, I think my reflection is still trapped somewhere in the basement of the con hotel.

- I didn't take many photos because I suffered a strange case of Behind Camera Shyness. This is a new illness. I'm going to prescribe something sugary.

- I developed an addiction to ice cubes. My home made ice cubes do not compare. I would also like to continue having breakfast in bed. Someone arrange the latter.

- Roy Gray (of Interzone / TTA Press) kindly gave us a lift to and from Fantasycon. Much thanks to him. I think he survived the experience.

- Candy floss was consumed.

- Most important of all, the convention made me desperate to write. I'd lost a little of that want over the past few months. Oh, and did I say, I met ROB SHEARMAN!!! This may have pleased me.

Thin Men with Yellow Faces Event

This is Horror are hosting an event on Saturday September 22 to celebrate the launch of their second chapbook Thin Men with Yellow Faces by Gary McMahon and Simon Bestwick. Joining Simon and Gary will be Ramsey Campbell, Conrad Williams and Jasper Bark.

The launch event will be held at MadLab in Manchester from 6:30pm running through to 8:15 pm.Tickets are just £3 and you can purchase them via the This is Horror website. I have mine and if you're in the area then go get yours. Thin Men with Yellow Faces will be available for the special price of £4 in Manchester for one night only and as it's a collaboration between two hugely talented writers you know it's going to kick-ass.

Well I never...

Life has taken an interesting turn at this end. If you're one of my Facebook friends you may already know what I'm talking about. If not...ooh, the mystery.

Here's a clue... Faceless

Don't panic, I haven't removed my face. Actually, that may be cause for some to start panicking. Don't worry, the lesser-spotted-me doesn't leave the North West area very often. Fair warning: I will be in Brighton this September.

Here's another clue... Twisted Tales

You may recall that I've mentioned attending writers events at my local Waterstones. You may also recall that I meet a friend for coffee before these events. I've known said friend since the late 1990s when he edited a magazine, we spoke on the phone a few times, he published some of my stuff and then I vanished from the writing world and we didn't catch up again until I returned to the writing fold, found his blog and yelled 'hello'. We started meeting up for the occasional coffee two years ago, in August 2010.

Another clue... My head is in the clouds and airships are floating by.

No, I'm not tripping.

I think.

So, for those of you not on my Facebook friends list, I just updated my status to... In a relationship with Simon Bestwick.

The Carnival is Over

It appears my glorious two weeks off work have whittled down to this last day. I'm not certain how that happened. Okay, I know how that happened but some of it is a blur and some of it deliciously highlighted in its wonderfulness. Back to reality tomorrow.

Ugh! (Uttered like a caveman in pain)

The plan for today (should I ever escape the endless loop of Twitter and Facebook) is to work on my novella/novel, which I haven't touched since Tuesday. My first week off work I wrote, wrote, wrote. The second week not so much, but that doesn't matter as I was out having adventures. One of those adventures included going to a Terror Scribes meeting in Manchester yesterday. I always feel so brave going to events because I can be incredibly shy. Annoyingly shy. God help me at Fantasycon--I shall have to get drunk on candy floss. At Terror Scribes, people were lovely and welcoming, and luckily I went with Simon Bestwick so that helped the nerves a little.

Now I shall go play with some ghosts, including a malicious one who appears to be channelling Willy Wonka.

The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Costume Department

It's apt that my tour should find its way to Simon Bestwick's blog today as I met up with the dude in Liverpool yesterday evening for another Twisted Tales event (more on that in another post). Today's post is another cautionary tale - The Travelling Theatrical Tour: Costume Department - on what happens to those who find employment in the theatre.

Simon's second novel 'The Faceless' is published next week by Solaris (I shall be haunting the postman until he brings my copy which according to Amazon is on the way). In the meantime, for those who can't wait, you can purchase his short story collection 'A Hazy Shade of Winter' (Ash-Tree Press). I'm reading it at the moment and it is delightfully chilling.

Shaking the Six Demon Bag

The amazing Josh Reynolds invited me over to his blog for a wee interview. You can read it here...if you are so inclined.

Josh's book 'Knight of the Blazing Sun' is released by Warhammer this March, and you can read an extract over at The Black Library website.

It's been a week of interviews, with others over at This is Horror and Bloody Bookish. The blog tour continues this week with posts at Gef Fox, Mark West, Simon Bestwick and Chris Gerrib's place. Guest blogs will be on the way to you wonderful folk this weekend.

Today, after the dreaded supermarket visit, I shall edit a short story and then get back to the novel. Of course, that's if I ever get dressed.

Cujo, Books & Touring

The year may be new but the chaos continues...

Thanks to gale force winds a portion of the garden fence came down overnight (again!) and we've had an Alsatian roaming our garden for most of the day. Gave my poor little mum an awful fright as it came bounding at her this morning. To make it even more annoying, it turns out our neighbour knew the fence had come down and went out leaving it to roam our garden because she didn't want it in her house. The air is several shades of blue.

My brother attempted to fix my office chair, because it has a weird tipping motion, only the fool that is me didn't check the chair until he'd left and now... It's determined to tip me all the way out. I'm sitting by the strength of my thigh muscles. They're going to be like steel by February.

Or not.

Some excellent 'other people' news. Remember those two books that I couldn't wait to read in 2012. Well, Alison Littlewood's 'A Cold Season' has made it onto Richard & Judy's book club list. If you're in the UK, then you know how huge that is. And, Simon Bestwick has super awesome news that is making him happy dance across Manchester. You can't say you weren't warned. (Sorry, dude)

My Travelling Theatrical Tour (to celebrate Theatre's release) starts tomorrow when I'll be heading over to Deborah Walker's blog. The second part of my blog journey will be at TTA Press on Friday courtesy of Peter Tennant. I'll be taking in various other sites across the month and I hope you'll follow my trail. I'll leave chocolate breadcrumbs.

Everything but the End of the World

Things to look forward to in 2012...

Is it here yet?

I ❤ Delivery People

Overnight I received an email from my publisher saying the Theatre hardbacks would be delivered today and after several seconds of twirling in my chair, I decided not to get too excited as UPS let us down when Eric sent the ARCs. But this time....

...in retrospect the delivery couldn't fail because the UPS man who brought it turned out to be my brilliant, wonderful UPS man from work - thankfully I'd changed from my pj's and sorta brushed my hair - who was on a different route for the day. Dude!

I think he's still confused that I opened the door (you know when you see someone out of their usual environment) and trying to figure out the garbage I gabbled at him for five minutes. Although he's used to my garbage. 

In other news, and proving that December is the most awesome month of all, I have a few links for you...

Theatre appears on Gef Fox's top five novellas of the year list and Strange Men appears in his top five anthologies/story collections. Bloody Hell.

At The Crow's Caw, the staff listed their favourite five books of the year and Nowhere Hall appears on Jassen Bailey's list and Theatre on Lee Thompson's list. Dudes!

Jennifer at The Book Den reviewed Theatre... "The mix of Gardner's intelligent prose and her dark, visual tale had my brain all delighted."

Philip Harris reviewed Strange Men over at Solitary Mindset... I love how he started his review... "There’s something wrong with Cate Gardner." True. True.

A bloody awesome review from Glynn James for Nowhere Hall... "Cate’s ability to describe the indescribable is exceptional here." ...and Alan Baxter reviews Nowhere Hall at his blog... "This is a beautiful story, haunting and powerful. It’s superbly written, with rich, stirring language and an excellent sense of place."


I think that's all the linkage. That has to be all the linkage because.... Bloody Hell! Any more goodness and I might explode. Okay, that could happen from the amount of Christmas chocolate we have in the house too... We have far, far, far too much.

Oh, wait... And apparently (news just in) if you read and liked Nowhere Hall and Strange Men you can vote for them in the This is Horror awards... Or If you've read Simon Bestwick's Angels of the Silences you can vote for that instead, which is what I'm going to do. :D Voting closes December 30th.

Top Five of Other Things...

My favourite novellas/novelettes of 2011 were...

(again, not necessarily published this year but read by me this year)

My favourite collections / anthologies read in 2011

My favourite Short Story writers of 2011

Robert Shearman

Alison Littlewood

Ken Liu

Amanda C Davis

Ray Cluley

Attended another Twisted Tales event last night (I blogged about the last one here) at Waterstones in Liverpool One. This time the guys at Waterstones were celebrating the release of the PS Publishing anthology Gutshot.

First off there was an introduction by anthology editor, Conrad Williams followed by readings from Gary McMahon, Joel Lane and Amanda Hemingway. After the readings there was a question and answer session which my pal Simon Bestwick joined because he's also in the anthology.

How cool is my city?

Before the event I met Simon Bestwick, Gary McMahon and Joel Lane in the cafe opposite Waterstones. Never mind my city, how cool am I? I've met Joel before (briefly), but it's the first time I've met Gary and as expected he's super awesome as well as being super talented. Picked up Gary's The Concrete Grove and of course Gutshot. The anthology is available from PS Publishing.

The next Twisted Tales event has readings by Ramsey Campbell and Pete Crowther. Again, how cool is my city?