Cemetery Dance Select

by Lisa Morton

The Cemetery Dance Select series invites some of our favorite authors to spotlight a sampling of their own short fiction: award-winners, stories they consider their best or that had the most impact on their career—or neglected favorites they feel deserve a second look.

Long-time fans will enjoy revisiting some classic tales. New readers will find this series a handy introduction to each author’s best work.

Each CD Select mini-collection includes an exclusive Afterword where the author explains the reasoning behind each selection, and provides insights into the writing of each story.

The stories Lisa Morton has chosen for this collection are:

Black Mill Cove
Joe and Abel in the Field of Rest
Tested
Pound Rots in Fragrant Harbour

48 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 28, 2015

About the author

Lisa Morton is a screenwriter, author of horror fiction, and Halloween expert. She is a winner of both the Black Quill and Bram Stoker Awards, and her short stories have appeared in more than 50 books and magazines. Her first novel, THE CASTLE OF LOS ANGELES, was released by Gray Friar Press in 2010, and her first collection, MONSTERS OF L.A., was published by Bad Moon Books in October 2011. She is a native and lifelong resident of Southern California, and currently resides in the San Fernando Valley.

Reviews

[Mommacat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance Review Copy

Lisa Morton always writes a solid story and showcases her talent in her handpicked CEMETERY DANCE SELECT short story collection.

From a man finding body parts while diving for abalone to zombies to an evil man who won't die, these are well written stories that are sure to satisfy.

Highly Recommended.

[Ronald Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you aren't familiar with this author's fiction Cemetery Dance Select: Lisa Morton is a fine introduction. The four stories she selected for inclusion are diverse enough to give an indication of her style and interests, even though Halloween and Hollywood aren't showcased as theme or content, as she notes in her Afterword. All four tales are well-worth reading. "Black Mill Cove" displays a sense of dread, sudden terror, and stark horror in an interesting, if unintended, version of the hunter/prey trope. Even though I don't usually like zombie stories I found "Joe and Abel in the Field of Rest" quite interesting and very affective. "Tested" was concise, tense and the confrontation hinted at the nature of man and beast. I really liked "Pound Rots in Fragrant Harbour," with its sense of the mythic overshadowing the horror of Pound. I always appreciate an author appending comments concerning the stories in a collection; Lisa Morton's notations are both personal and contextual, so they are doubly appreciated.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the Cemetery Dance Select series. In this series authors personally select stories for inclusion and write about why the stories were included at the end.

Lisa Morton Selected:
Black Mill Cove: A powerful story about a couples Abalone hunting trip gone very wrong. This s a powerful short story with my only criticism being the end was predictable.
Joe and Abel in the Field of Rest: This was a refreshing twist on the traditional Zombie story. I really enjoyed this one.
Tested: A couple are involved in a car wreck. Something ran in front of the car, that something is still out there. A gripping tale about a man having to fight for his and his wife's life. Another strong story.
Pound Rots in Fragrant Harbour: For me this is the weakest story of the lot. It appears to be a mythological tale about two people whos lives are destined to connect. Did not really work for me.

The first three stories are more than worth the price of admission!

[John J Questore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first found out about Lisa Morton after receiving an ARC of Dark Screams Volume 4. I don't know where I've been that I had not heard of her until then, but I'm glad I did (that's a great read by the way - pick it up when you can).

Anyway, Cemetery Dance Publications released this new line of e-books - something I despise (as my review readers should know) - called Cemetery Dance Select. Each book showcases some stories hand selected by a specific author. Currently there are eleven different authors to choose. I immediately bought Lisa's - without even thinking twice.

The book contains the following stories.

1) Black Mill Cove - I wasn't sure how I felt about this story so I had to read it twice. The reason, is that I saw the ending coming well before I think she intended. So I felt I ruined the story for myself. After going back a second time, I got it. I don't fish, at all, but I got the horror Lisa tried to instill in the reader - I still can relate since I go camping monthly.

2) Joe and Able in the Field of Rest - this was one of my favorites - which is funny since I am so over zombie stories that I purposely avoid reading them now. But while reading it I couldn't help but think that it could have been a Steinbeck story - if he wrote zombie stories. Funny, Lisa's comments mention that she realized it is also a "gay love story", yet I didn't see that. I may have to read that again - although it won't change the story, in my mind.

3) Tested - I have to say it was my least favorite of the five. I felt it moved too quick, and the story was missing something. After reading Lisa's reason for writing the story, and the meaning behind it, I understand what she was going for; but I think it was over my head since I am not part of the generation she was speaking to.

4) Pound Rots in Fragrant Harbour - this was my absolute favorite of the collection. I am a sucker for j-horror. Granted, this story takes place in Hong Kong and not Japan, but the whole Asian mythology is there. This story has it all - a bit of the Faust story, finding one's path in life, and reincarnation. Lisa hit it out of the park with this story.

If you are looking for a good read - and have $2.99 that you don't know what to do with - invest it in this book. You won't be sorry.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B010MRLAF4/?...