Zachary Ashford's Blog

Hi folks,

I have a few e-arcs for my next release, TROG, coming from Unnerving in March.

If you'd like one, please send me a message.

Thanks,

Zac.

Trog

It thrills me to share on here that my book POLYPHEMUS is a finalist in two horror novel awards categories!

First, it's a finalist the Australian Shadows Awards for best novel of 2023. This is the big one in Australian Horror, and it'll be competing against some seriously worthy (and mildly daunting) opponents.

Second, it's a finalist in the best horror novel category of the Imadjinn Awards. This is a US based awards, held at the Imaginarium Convention, where again, it's competing against some top quality opponents!

I'm thrilled with this, and would love for you to check it out and see what you think - after all, two awards panels can't be wrong about it, right?Polyphemus

It's undoubtedly a stab in the dark, and I always feel like a bit of a gimp doing this, but if you've read The Morass (novella) or Polyphemus (novel) and think either is a good fit for the Splatterpunk award, I'd really appreciate if you let the organisers know by emailing splatterpunkawards@gmail.com.

Morass: novella category
Polyphemus: novel category

Thanks for any support it does get!

I was thrilled this morning to hear from a reader that they'd emailed the Splatterpunk awards to recommend The Morass: Servant of the Fly God for next year's ballot.

If you've read the book and dug it enough to think it's worthy of such a prize, please let the organizers know by emailing them here:

splatterpunkawards@gmail.com

If you haven't yet gotten to it, please remember it's available for free on KU!

Thanks,

Zac.

Hard to believe my new book is only two weeks away from release!

It's called The Morass: Servant of the Fly God and I can't wait for everyone to have the chance to read it.

So far, all reviews have been stellar! (Literally 11 5-star reviews out of 11 - and they're all from actual readers and not my mates! Whoa!)

Anyway, it's the second book in what I'm starting to think of as my Queensland trilogy - books set and inspired by real places in my home state.

This one's a real Ozploitation nightmare. Jamie Blanks, the director of Urban Legend called it 'Undiluted Horror'.

It's available for pre-order now at
http://getbook.at/Morass

Here's the description for you:
What if you had been kidnapped by a serial killer and your only hope of escape was cut off by rising floodwater?

“A terrifying descent into a nightmarish scenario, rendered with skill, imagination and a merciless desire to immerse the reader in undiluted horror. This is a terrific work of horror fiction by one of Australia's best genre writers. I couldn't put it down.”—Jamie Blanks, director of Urban Legend and Valentine

The Australian Outback is a place mired in myth, folklore, and rumour that’s inspired some of the best horror fiction and creature horror books. Some say it’s full of deadly creatures. Others claim it’s rife with serial killers hunting for backpackers and stranded tourists. Whatever the cause, young people in central Queensland are disappearing and the locals are frightened.

Katy is fresh from college and ready to research and write her magnum opus, a book investigating the many disappearances of outback youths in Australia. When she meets Kip, a guitarist on his way to the city, she knows she’s onto something good and that she can prove her hypothesis: there’s nothing there for the youth of today and they’re running away, searching for employment and prospects in the city.

Unfortunately, she’s wrong. In this terrifying cosmic horror book, there is a killer in the outback. One that thinks God is the ancient creature that lurks in the swamps near his property. With floodwaters rising, he’s certain Katy and Kip are the sacrifices that will allow the entity to emerge from the morass and cleanse the world of sinners. One terrifying abduction later, he has them both imprisoned.

As they struggle to escape the terror and the torture, their desperate fight for survival will lead only to more horror. Because their kidnapper is not crazy. His god is real. His god is hungry, and it is screaming to be reborn.

Aurealis-nominated Australian author Zachary Ashford turns his attention to the isolation of the outback with this fast-paced horror. The tension thrums. The brutality screams. The desperation of his protagonists’ plight bleeds from the page. For fans of extreme horror, splatterpunk, gore, violent films like Wolf Creek, or international movies like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and the grotesque creatures of movies like Aliens, The Thing, or The Fly, The Morass: Servant of the Fly God is not to be missed.

Will Katy and Kip survive? Will their killer succeed? Will the God in the swamp take over the world. Buy this supernatural thriller book now, and discover their fate.

Hi guys,

I was thrilled, absolutely thrilled to find out that When the Cicadas Stop Singing has been nominated for an Aurealis Award this morning.

I'd be stoked if you chose to grab a copy and share your thoughts. I still have a couple here at home for signing and sending.

Overseas P&P can add up, but it's also available on Amazon and other book sites.


When the Cicadas Stop Singing

If you're on Netgalley, and chasing a review copy of When the Cicadas Stop Singing, you can now grab one.

"Like Mad Max with monsters, When The Cicadas Stop Singing is a fast, brutal, yet intimate tale of survival in a ruined Australia." Alan Baxter: Author of The Roo

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...

This will mostly be for my fellow Aussies, but I've now got a couple of paperbacks of When the Cicadas Stop Singing spare here at home.

If you want a signed one, just flick me a DM and I'll get it on its way to you.

Hi guys, just a quick courtesy message.
Paperbacks (and hardcovers) of my new book When the Cicadas Stop Singing are now available.

All these people said great things about it. I'd love it if you scored a copy to see for yourself!

Alan Baxter, author of The Roo: "Like Mad Max with monsters, When the Cicadas Stop Singing is a brutal yet intimate tale of survival in a ruined Australia."

Ross Jeffery, Bram Stoker nominated author of Tome: "A dystopian nightmare - horrific, original and most importantly absolutely terrifying!"

Brian Asman, author of Nunchuck City: "Everything in Australia will kill you, including Ashford's tight, punchy prose. Watch out for lizard monsters, but remember the humans are always the worst things in the wasteland!"

Yolanda Sfetsos, author of The Wired City: Wow. "This was one fantastic and brutal story. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down."

Andy Cull, author of Remains: With sharp, lyrical prose, Zachary Ashford has crafted a brutal and believable story of grief and survival in a broken world. I read ‘When the Cicadas Stop Singing’ in one sitting and I’ve no doubt you will too.”

Steve Stred, author of Ritual and The Window in the Ground: "Ashford sinks his talons in quickly and pulls the reader through When the Cicadas Stop Singing.' Filled with action, emotions and visceral moments that'll make the reader bleed, this was a creature feature to remember."

Get it here:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09GXKFGN6

I'm thrilled to share that the full Ben Baldwin wraparound cover for my new book, When The Cicadas Stop Singing is now available to view, and the ebook is live on Amazon everywhere.

Paperback and hardback will come in another week or two, but for now, I'd love if you checked this one out.

In the UK, it's even on Kindle Unlimited!

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09FQ7FTF8
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQ7FTF8
AUS: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09FQ7FTF8

Full cover: https://gingernutsofhorror.com/fictio...