Someone Wicked: A Written Remains Anthology

by Weldon Burge (Editor), J.M. Reinbold (Editor), Billie Sue Mosiman

"There is poison in the fang of the serpent, in the mouth of the fly, and in the sting of a scorpion; but the wicked man is saturated with it." — Chanakya

Avaricious, cruel, depraved, envious, mean-spirited, vengeful—the wicked have been with us since the beginnings of humankind. You might recognize them and you might not. But make no mistake. When the wicked cross your path, your life will never be the same. Do you know someone wicked? You will.

The 21 stories in the Someone Wicked anthology were written by the members of the Written Remains Writers Guild and its friends, and was edited by JM Reinbold and Weldon Burge.

Gail Husch - Reckonings
Billie Sue Mosiman - The Flenser
Mike Dunne - The Fire of Iblis
Christine Morgan - Sven Bloodhair
Ramona DeFelice Long - The Chances
Russell Reece - Abracadabra
Carson Buckingham - The Plotnik Curse
Chantal Noordeloos - Mirror Mirror
Patrick Derrickson - The Next King
Barbara Ross - Home Improvements
J.M. Reinbold - Missing
Shaun Meeks - Despair
Liz DeJesus - Sisters: A Fairy Tale
Doug Blakeslee - The Flowering Princess of Dreams
Justynn Tyme - The Semi-Aquatic Blue Baker of Borneo
Ernestus Jiminy Chald - The Tail of Fate
Weldon Burge - Right-Hand Man
Joseph Badal - Ultimate Betrayal
Maria Masington - Impresario
L.L. Soares - Sometimes the Good Witch Sings to Me
Shannon Connor Winward - The Devil Inside
The illustration for the cover was created by Jamie Mahon. Cover design by Amy York.

Genres: Anthologies

406 pages, Paperback

First published November 24, 2013

About the author

Weldon Burge, a native of Delaware, is the author of the Ezekiel Marrs thriller series published by Smart Rhino Publications. HARVESTER OF SORROW is the first novel in the series. Weldon is also a freelance writer and publisher. His fiction has appeared in many publications, including various magazines and anthologies (Crimeucopia, The Best of the Horror Society 2013, Pellucid Lunacy: An Anthology of Psychological Horror, Ghosts and Demons, just to name a few). His stories have also been adapted for podcast presentation by Drabblecast. He was a frequent writer for Suspense Magazine, often writing author interviews.

In 2012, Weldon and his wife, Cindy, founded Smart Rhino Publications, an indie publishing company focusing primarily on horror and suspense/thriller books. To date, the company has published 17 books, primarily anthologies.

You can sign up to receive his e-letter at https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...

Reviews

[David Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I consider myself more of a fan of novels then short stories but recently I read a great anthology called Someone Wicked which was edited by Weldon Burge and JM Reinbold and available from Smart Rhino Publications. This book is a collection of 21 tales by the Written Remains Writers Guild that cover such genres as horror, comedy, fantasy and mystery. This is one impressive anthology, every story here is well written and each story is different from the last.

One good story in Someone Wicked is Reckonings by Gail Husch. I loved how the main character describes herself in the beginning and then she gets into all the little things that she does to get vengeance on the people who annoy her. This is a simple story but the way everything is described paints a picture and makes it come to life. The way this one was written made me think this is going be a great anthology and all of the other stories here are just as good.

Reckonings is a quiet, psychological horror story with a touch of humor. To show the diversity in Someone Wicked the next story is The Flenser by Billie Sue Mosiman. This horror story goes more for the gross out effect but still manages to have interesting characters and a good shocking ending. The Flenser is about a man who gets a job cleaning flesh off of skull so they can be sold to medical facilities. I did not know jobs exsisted like this and it was interesting reading about how these people would interact with others and what their idea of fun might be.

One of my favorites in this book is Mirror, Mirror by Chantal Noordeloos. This is a dark fantasy story that looks at the legend of bloody Mary. This story begins in 1852 and is told by a girl named Sophie who along with her mother lives on a plantation. Sophie has a step sister named Marie-Louise who is a bully and likes to make Sophie’s life hard. In addition to bullying, Sophie has a hard life and her mother along with others end up dying under mysterious circumstances. Sophie feels like an outcast and makes friends with some of the slaves. Here Sophie finds out about the cursed mirror in the house. I loved how this story was told with all the details of life in the mid 1800′s and I liked Sophie’s relationship with the slaves. This was one great horror story on a legend that I didn’t know much about.

In addition to the excellent horror stories in this book there is a mystery here called Missing by JM Reinbold, along with some good takes on fairy tales such as Sisters: A Fairy Tale by Liz DeJesus which I would love to see expanded into a novel. I also loved the dramatic Impresario by Maria Masington, this one takes a look at one young person’s descent into drug addiction that I think sadly a lot of people can relate to. This book even has some stories that are just for laughs such as The Semi-Aquatic Blue Baker of Borneo by Justynn Tyme which is a hard story to explain, it just has to be read. This anthology has it all and is a book you shouldn’t pass up.

[Dave Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am turning into a huge fan of Smart Rhino and Weldon Burge. SO far I have read the two Zippered Flesh books and Uncommon Assassins and I have to say that he knows how to put a book together. This time around with Someone Wicked, he had the help of fellow contributor, JM Reinbold, who also wrote one of my top five favorite stories in here called Missing (more on that later). This collection is a bit different from the others though as it sways a little more, not just sticking to a mainly horror theme. There is a dark tone, but there is also some real humour and some fairy tales in the mix. And the best part is, they all flow so well together. There is not a story to miss in this one.
That being said, there are five stories that real stood out to me. At the top of my list is Shaun Meeks' Despair. Shaun was also in Zippered Flesh 2 where he brought one of the creepiest stories to the table, and he does it again here. I was pulled into this one. I thought it was going to be a standard, though well written ghost story, but then he showed me how wrong I was. Touching, brutal and twisted.
The next one is Billie Sue Mosiman with The Flesnser. It is a well written and creepy story that gave me goosebumps at times.
Christine Morgan's Sven Bloodhair is a close second to Shaun's story. This one is so well done, a brutal and perfectly flowing story that takes place in another time and she makes it so believable. I love the language of this one.
The other top two are L.L. Soares' Sometimes the Good Witch Sings to Me and Shannon Connor Winward's The Devil Inside, letting the book end on a great note. It ties the book up so nicely and left me wanting more. And I do hope there may be another volume in the future.
Highly recommended.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've just finished this delightfully twisted anthology. This is my first exposure to the Written Remains Writers Guild, but certainly will not be my last. The stories in this collection all revolve around the theme of characters that commit wicked acts of some sort. It's not a horror anthology by any means, although there are elements of horror in many of these stories, as well as suspense, and even a great deal of humor. The writing styles and story themes are very diverse from one story to the next, which is a rarity with many anthologies. Personal highlights for me were Chantal Noordeloos' "Mirror Mirror", Barbara Ross' "Home Improvement", J.M. Reinbold's "Missing", Ernestus Jiminy Chald's "The Tale of Fate", and Maria Masington's "Impresario", but there is enough diversity in this book to interest readers of every taste. I'm excited to see what else the Written Remains Writers Guild has to offer.

[Bibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great anthology of stories around the theme "someone wicked". I liked how in some stories the main character had an incident with someone wicked, but in most stories the main character either was the wicked person from the start or ended up becoming wicked. "The Plotnik curse", "Missing" and "Despair" were my favourites.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing a review for an anthology is quite different than writing a review for a novel or individual story. An anthology is like a great gumbo: you know the whole meal is going to be delicious but you keep stumbling upon new and different taste sensations that surprise and delight. Someone Wicked, a Written Remains anthology, edited by Weldon Burge and JM Reinbold and released by Smart Rhino Publications should be on everyone's reading menu!

Speaking of taste, as I write this, I am fighting an internal battle with regard to which of the twenty-one amazing stories in Someone Wicked I should highlight. Both my wife and I are from the South. A tradition in these parts is to have a New Year's mid-day meal - together with friends and family - your plates chock full of black-eyed peas (complete with pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters sprinkled liberally in the pot), cornbread, turnip greens and the like. There's only one problem: all that stuff I just highlighted up there? To me it tastes terrible!

Yes, I am from the South but, just ask any of my relatives, I sure don't act like it.

It's a delicate thing to tell a hostess that you're sorry, but you just can't stomach most of what she's planning on cooking for the dinner you've been graciously invited to. It doesn't mean she's a bad cook; it just means some of those vittles are not to your taste.

And so it is with Someone Wicked. Every single one of these stories is awesome. Did I read them all? You bet - which is much more than I can say for the chances of me ever eating black-eyed peas. As with any buffet or dinner, there are dishes that I didn't care so much for, dishes that were good, and dishes that were so good I had to go back for seconds. But the most important thing is that each and every one of these wicked tales is fascinating and well written. So to the excellent authors whose stories I don't mention here by name, please forgive me. For every one of me, there are ninety-nine others who will go back for seconds - and thirds - and love every word of your beautifully crafted tale!

In no particular order, here are my personal favorites:

Mirror Mirror by Chantal Noordeloos: A mysterious and spooky tale of family secrets set in the deep south of the 1850's, Mirror Mirror is narrated from the point of view of young Sophie Bellefleur, a step-daughter to the master of the plantation on which she lives. The old plantation house is large; daunting for a girl growing up in the shadow of her beautiful step-sister. Marie-Louise has the kind of beauty that pines to be recognized. When she hears that the Dragon Mirror will show her the man who would be her husband, well, what beautiful woman can resist that temptation?

Sisters - A Fairy Tale by Liz DeJesus: There are a lot of things in life a person can choose...but one cannot choose their sister. Sisters can be at odds with each other in the world we live in - but what about in a world where two sisters are touched by the Queen of the Fairies? Each of us has a distinct personality. What happens when the personalities of Fanny and Elda are touched by faerie magic? What happens if the magic is a curse and not a blessing?

The Flowering Princess of Dreams by Doug Blakeslee: Eddy and Justin are brothers, but are as different as night and day. Eddy is careless where Justin is conscientious. Just like sisters, brothers can be close or there can be unspoken resentments between them. If those resentments grow too large, what will one brother do to right the perceived wrongs of his life?

The Devil Inside by Shannon Connor Winward: There are mysteries of motherhood that men will never understand. As a father, I can understand the joys and challenges of being a parent, but I cannot know what it's like to be a mother. In the final pages of Someone Wicked, Rebecca struggles with a lack of love for her newborn son. The little tyke screams constantly when she is home alone with him...but is an angel around everyone else. I recall driving the last three hours of a long road trip with our baby son in the back seat wailing non-stop. I can't imagine what it would be like to live with that constantly; what's a mother to do?

Sometimes the Good Witch Sings to Me by L.L. Soares: One of the most disturbing stories in this anthology is a dark, fascinating look into how our minds can be incredibly powerful persuasives. Are there good witches and bad witches in the real world? According to Jerry, there are. And good witches can compel us...

I have a sort of love/hate relationship with horror. I don't typically watch horror movies and I don't read much horror fiction. I think it stems from watching the pilot episode of Rod Serling's Night Gallery when I was young. The story that ruined me was The Cemetery, in which Roddy McDowall kills his uncle and is haunted by an ever-changing painting in the family manse. I have to tell you, that episode scared the living daylights out of me...and I've been a scaredy-cat ever since.

I tell you that to tell you this: despite my aversion to fear - even the fictional kind - I am privileged to have read Someone Wicked. It is a superbly written and masterfully edited anthology. And if this old chicken can read these twenty-one tales and and enjoy them, just think how much fun they will be for true horror aficionados!

X

[Matthew Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never get tired of seeing unique anthology ideas, especially when the completed product is chocked full of talented authors. Such is the case with Smart Rhino Publications’ somewhat recent release, SOMEONE WICKED. I have to openly apologize to Weldon Burge at Smart Rhino for taking so long to review this; he sent it to me back in December, but it somehow ducked out of sight after I moved at the end of that same month. But the wait was well worth it; this anthology is a real treat, and every horror/thriller fiction reader will want to add this to his/her library.

First, I have to compliment all of the contributing authors on thinking up a wide range of ideas to fit this concept. Like the film I reviewed earlier today, I wasn’t too sure what to expect with this collection; the cover art was vague and made me instantly think of Snow White. But, wow…my expectations were exceeded and then blown out of the water. There are some nice, juicy, original tidbits in this short-story buffet!

Each story in SOMEONE WICKED is written well and carefully crafted. The authors take great care with building the suspense in their stories, and the result is a collection of immersing and thoughtful (albeit horrifying) tales. There are a couple of stories here that will certainly make you think twice about crossing certain people.

I particularly enjoy the diversity of writing styles that are showcased in this anthology. Some of the stories are written in first person while others in the third. But each author lends a distinct voice to their stories, an almost trademark for their individual talent.

I enjoyed all of the stories in SOMEONE WICKED, which is a true feat because in most anthologies I usually find a couple of tales that I didn’t care for. But if I were forced to find a favorite, I would have to say “Sisters: A Fairy Tale” by Liz DeJesus would stand out the most. I love her writing style, and the subject matter of the story enthralls me.

SOMEONE WICKED is a huge win for me, and I recommend giving it a look. This book is definitely worth what you pay for it, so snatch it up regardless of what format you prefer.

[Amy Lignor · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover, alone, draws the reader in, as they stare at a slightly familiar figure offering up an apple to anyone who wishes to sink their teeth into this ‘Wicked’ world.

A fun compilation, each story provides someone wicked at its core. Whether they be rich or poor, sick or healthy, good or bad, all twisted personalities are welcome.

Delving just a bit between the pages, here are three juicy tales that readers can not miss:

The Chances, wraps around Margot, who hasn’t been on a shopping trip to Bangor since her significant other walked out on her. But on the way home, deciding to take a short cut to save time, Margot stops immediately to help a woman lying in the road. Thankfully, the body is only that of a mannequin; obviously just someone’s idea of a sick joke. Reporting the incident to the police, Margot turns her attention on the officer who arrives to take her statement, and more than a bit of creepiness and stalking commences.

Reckonings, is a little fable about a quiet lady who works in an office; if you didn’t look twice, you’d never even see her at all. She doesn’t talk to anyone unless they ask her a specific question, but she certainly has a hidden talent. She has ways of getting even with people who choose not to treat her well…

Rebecca has recently become a mother in The Devil Inside, and is sickened to think that her own baby hates her. Happy with his father and his nanny, the boy can’t seem to stand being in the same room with his mother. Hanging on every word, readers will be amazed when they actually realize that the evil in this story is someone you never would have guessed.

A first-class example of a mystery collection, this anthology provides a wealth of devilishly fun afternoon reading. Poison, torture, evil around every corner…enjoy this book, if you can!

[Art Griswold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfect example of a top notch collection of mostly spectacular stories from a wide array of authors.

There was only one story in the entire collection I did not like but I didn't allow that to diminish my overall positive feeling for the book as a whole.

Some of my own personal standouts:

Reckonings by Gail Husch - A fantastic tale of evil people being repaid for their little acts of disrespect. How many of us wish we could act like this in our real lives? I know I do...

Missing by Jim Reinbold - Gripping, terrifying and sad. This races down the halls of scary things.

Sometimes the Good Witch Sings to Me by LL Soares - Awesome concept and what a thrill ride. This is a tale to rival even the best of this collection. The hint at the end will drive readers mad with wondering.

The Devil Inside by Shannon Connor - This is golden. It just leaves me wanting more. And the ending is a real head scratcher. It seems as if this would do much better as a longer piece with much more content.

And my two favorite stories:
Right Hand Man by Weldon Burge - The editor of the book delivers one of the best in the collection. This is the #2 story in the entire thing. Burge knows exactly what he's doing in the telling of stories about crime, the mob, and killing. Need to read more by this author.


Mirror Mirror by Chantal Noordeloos - This is the creme de la creme. I will never sleep in the dark again. The shadows in my mirror will forever haunt me and make me doubt even my own reflection. This here is a first rate terror tale teller.

[Darlene Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treat this book was. Although there is a theme to this one (someone wicked in case the title wasn't obvious), the stories span a few different genres. There is a strong lean towards horror, but that's not all. There are thrillers, fantasy, historical horror and even something that I can only describe as bizarre. The stories are all very engaging and front to back this one should appeal to most. Three of the stories in here really stuck out to me above the rest, Christine Morgan's Sven Bloodhair, Shaun Meeks' Despair and Chantal Noordeloos' Mirror Mirror. Each of these stories show the varied style of the book and were just awesome as a whole.

[Shannon Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

Guess it's not exactly earth-shattering to say I really liked an anthology I appeared in... nevertheless, J.M. and Weldon did an excellent job with SOMEONE WICKED, and I'm proud to be a part of it.

As with all Smart Rhino anthologies, SOMEONE WICKED is a deliciously eclectic mix of genres and styles. This, in my opinion, is the key to a great collection - the diversity of stories offers something to satisfy everyone's tastes, compiled in such a way as to draw you in to selections you might not have otherwise tried. I came across quite a few pleasant surprises in this book - stories that went where I didn't anticipate, styles I didn't expect to like but that grew on me. I definitely found some authors I'd like to see more of.

As a Guild member I can't, in all fairness, name a full list of favorites (in fact I was lucky enough to see a few of these stories in the early stages). That said, there are some that I feel truly deserve calling attention to:

"Sven Bloodhair" is the second viking-themed story by Christine Morgan that I've read ("Thyf's Tale" appears in Smart Rhino's UNCOMMON ASSASSINS), and I thoroughly enjoyed both of them. Morgan's writing is compelling and richly textured. I love being transported to a mythic past, delightful in its detail, crowded with characters that seem as large as life. The "be careful what you wish for" motif was very well done in "Bloodhair" - dark and juicy. Definitely a winner.

"The Chances" by Ramona Defelice Long was also a great read. I admire how well Ramona wove humor with creepiness - I cringed as much for the main character's obvious delusions ("Oh, honey...") as I did for her imminent danger. The most disturbing parts of the story were artfully done, so understated as to linger in my imagination even after I moved on to other stories.

JM Reinbold's "Missing" has a scene that will forever make me think twice before I dive into a swimming pool...

I didn't love the final punch-line in "The Tail of Fate" by Ernestus Jiminy Chald, but I did enjoy reading this story. I felt real empathy for the main character's plight, though there was a subtle humor to it, a "don't take this too, too seriously" that built nicely towards a ridiculous, over-the-top ending that literally made me laugh out loud. Plus, I REALLY like Chinese food.

There are many more gems in this anthology; there are also some stories that I thought didn't quite rise to the challenge. It does come down to taste, and that's ultimately what makes an anthology a great investment. Even if this book weren't comprised of work by friends and colleagues, I'd highly recommend it to short-story lovers looking for something different. It's an entertaining read with a great deal to offer - top notch, and a great deal to boot.

[Dave Granger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am turning into a huge fan of Smart Rhino and Weldon Burge. SO far I have read the two Zippered Flesh books and Uncommon Assassins and I have to say that he knows how to put a book together. This time around with Someone Wicked, he had the help of fellow contributor, JM Reinbold, who also wrote one of my top five favorite stories in here called Missing (more on that later). This collection is a bit different from the others though as it sways a little more, not just sticking to a mainly horror theme. There is a dark tone, but there is also some real humour and some fairy tales in the mix. And the best part is, they all flow so well together. There is not a story to miss in this one.
That being said, there are five stories that real stood out to me. At the top of my list is Shaun Meeks' Despair. Shaun was also in Zippered Flesh 2 where he brought one of the creepiest stories to the table, and he does it again here. I was pulled into this one. I thought it was going to be a standard, though well written ghost story, but then he showed me how wrong I was. Touching, brutal and twisted.
The next one is Billie Sue Mosiman with The Flesnser. It is a well written and creepy story that gave me goosebumps at times.
Christine Morgan's Sven Bloodhair is a close second to Shaun's story. This one is so well done, a brutal and perfectly flowing story that takes place in another time and she makes it so believable. I love the language of this one.
The other top two are L.L. Soares' Sometimes the Good Witch Sings to Me and Shannon Connor Winward's The Devil Inside, letting the book end on a great note. It ties the book up so nicely and left me wanting more. And I do hope there may be another volume in the future.
Highly recommended!

[Mark Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the stories bar one but a favourite is Impresario by Maria Masington such a poignant story that resonated with me totally followed closely by L.L.Soares' Sometimes the Good Witch Sings to Me which was a wonderful portrait of a killer with a fabulous delusion. All in all a great collection.

[Shadow Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come

[Juli Monroe · Rating 2 out of 5]

While a few of the stories were okay, most of them were un memorable. Too much focus on shock and gore. Not enough on suspense and psychological horror, which is my preference.