Epitaphs: The Journal of the New England Horror Writers, Vol. 1

by Tracy L. Carbone (Editor), Christopher Golden, K. Allen Wood

The New England Horror Writers Association, in partnership with Shroud Publishing, are proud to debut its inaugural anthology, Epitaphs The anthology is a compilation of some of the best dark fiction from both best-selling authors and up-and-coming writers throughout New England.

Contributors include Christopher Golden, Rick Hautala, Holly Newstein & Glenn Chadbourne, LL Soares, Trisha Wooldridge, K. Allen Wood, Kurt Newton, and more. The anthology features 26 stories and poems from the delightfully scary to the deeply macabre.

Epitaphs , edited by author Tracy L. Carbone, includes an introduction by award-winning author and publisher Peter Crowther, as well as a cover by Danny Evarts.

The table of contents in this chilling anthology is as

Perfect Witness , by Rick Hautala

To Sleep, Perchance to Die , by Jeffrey C. Pettengill

The Christopher Chair , by Paul McMahon

A Case of the Quiets , by Kurt Newton

Build-a-Zombie , by Scott T. Goudsward

Not an Ulcer , by John Goodrich

The Possessor Worm , by B. Adrian White

Make a Choice , by John McIlveen

The Death Room , by Michael Allen Todd

Stoney's Boneyard , by Holly Newstein & Glenn Chadbourne

Kali's Promise , by Trisha J. Wooldridge

The Sequel , by David Bernard

Malfeasance , by David North-Martino

Private Beach , by Stacey Longo

All Aboard , by Christopher Golden

Holiday House , by LL Soares

Lines at a Wake , by Steven Withrow

A Deeper Kind of Cold , by K. Allen Wood

Alone , by P. Gardner Goldsmith

Pandora's Box , by Roxanne Dent

Chuck the Magic Man Says I Can , by Michael Arruda

Burial Board , by TT Zuma

Windblown Shutter , by John Grover

Cheryl Takes a Trip , by Stephen Dorato

The Legend of Wormley Farm , by Philip Roberts

Church of Thunder and Lightning , by Peter N. Dudar

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Anthologies

254 pages, Paperback

First published October 13, 2011

Reviews

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it about New England that makes it such a fertile ground for growing great horror writers? Being a Texan, I am mystified, but being a horror lover, I do appreciate whatever it is.

Well chosen stories by top flight authors and even takes extra points for artistry by including poems.

My favorite stories were the ones that had a bitter sweetness to them, making them more dark fiction than actually horror.

The Christopher Chair by Paul McMahon--a relic that cures also exacts a price.

Build-A-Zombie by Scott T. Goudsward--gleefully macabre story based, you guessed it, on the concept of building one's own zombie instead of a cute stuffed animal.

Make a Choice by John M. McIlveen--disturbing, realistic, and well done. I don't want to give it away but it would be any parent's worse nightmare.

Stony's Boneyard by Glenn Chadbourne and Holly Newstein--touching supernatural story. Well written, evocative of loss and what we leave behind for the people that loved us.

Cheryl Takes a Trip by Stephen Dorato--literary ghost story about regret that functions on several levels.

[K.H. Vaughan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All anthologies are uneven, but this collection from the New England Horror Writers has some creepy gems in it. I was put off by the first story about an evil CPAP machine, which I found weak, but it picks up from there and a number of the pieces were very effective. The Christopher Chair, Perfect Witness, and Stony's Boneyard are the stronger stories and well written. There are a lot of bag horror anthologies out there, so it's nice to read one that pays off. I would recommend this to people who enjoy a spooky tale.

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

All anthologies are uneven, but this collection from the New England Horror Writers has some creepy gems in it. I was put off by the first story about an evil CPAP machine, which I found weak, but it picks up from there and a number of the pieces were very effective. The Christopher Chair, Perfect Witness, and Stony's Boneyard are the stronger stories and well written. There are a lot of bag horror anthologies out there, so it's nice to read one that pays off. I would recommend this to people who enjoy a spooky tale.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great mix of spooky, thought-provoking, touching, funny and downright creepy tales.

[Scott Goudsward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stoker nominated from Shroud and the NEHW. My story in the book is Build A Zombie.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A better-than-average horror anthology.

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

To Sleep, Perchance to Die, by Jeffrey C. Pettengill - ***
The Christopher Chair, by Paul McMahon - ***
A Case of the Quiets, by Kurt Newton - Not a fan of poetry, so can't really rate this
Build-a-Zombie, by Scott T. Goudsward - ***
Not an Ulcer, by John Goodrich - **
The Possessor Worm, by B. Adrian White - ***
Make a Choice, by John McIlveen - ****
The Death Room, by Michael Allen Todd - Not a fan of poetry, so can't really rate this
Perfect Witness, by Rick Hautala - ***
Stoney's Boneyard, by Holly Newstein & Glenn Chadbourne - ***
Kali's Promise, by Trisha J. Wooldridge - ***
Sequel, by David Bernard - ***
Malfeasance, by David North-Martino - ****
Private Beach, by Stacey Longo - **
All Aboard, by Christopher Golden - ****
Holiday House, by LL Soares - ***
Lines at a Wake, by Steven Withrow - Not a fan of poetry, so can't really rate this
A Deeper Kind of Cold, by K. Allen Wood - ***
Alone, by P. Gardner Goldsmith - **
Pandora's Box, by Roxanne Dent - ***
Chuck the Magic Man Says I Can, by Michael Arruda - ***
Burial Board, by TT Zuma - ***
Windblown Shutter, by John Grover - ****
Cheryl Takes a Trip, by Stephen Dorato - **
The Legend of Wormley Farm, by Philip Roberts - ***
Church of Thunder and Lightning, by Peter N. Dudar - **