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Midnight Echo 17
Midnight Echo 17. The official magazine of the Australasian Horror Writers Association, featuring short fiction, poetry and non-fiction from some of Australasia's best writers of dark fiction. Issue 17 includes:
Editorial Greg Chapman
La Belle Morte Sans Merci by Kat Clay
Smothered, Still and Silent by Deborah Sheldon
Feathers by Chris Mason
Hand and Heart by Geraldine Borella
Restless by D.I. Russell
The Fruits of Labour by Mark Towse
The House Contrition Built by Rebecca Fraser
Fearful Symmetry by Stephen Dedman
The Hole in Emily’s Heart by Michael Hughes
Universe, Devoured by Pamela Jeffs
Visitation Rites by Matthew R. Davis
The Lighthouse by Claire Fitzpatrick
The Tub by J. Ashley-Smith
Test of Death by Michael Botur
Animal Parade by Dani Ringrose
Editorial Greg Chapman
La Belle Morte Sans Merci by Kat Clay
Smothered, Still and Silent by Deborah Sheldon
Feathers by Chris Mason
Hand and Heart by Geraldine Borella
Restless by D.I. Russell
The Fruits of Labour by Mark Towse
The House Contrition Built by Rebecca Fraser
Fearful Symmetry by Stephen Dedman
The Hole in Emily’s Heart by Michael Hughes
Universe, Devoured by Pamela Jeffs
Visitation Rites by Matthew R. Davis
The Lighthouse by Claire Fitzpatrick
The Tub by J. Ashley-Smith
Test of Death by Michael Botur
Animal Parade by Dani Ringrose
- GenresHorror
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 20, 2022
12 people want to read
About the author
Greg Chapman
102 books108 followersAustralian Shadows Award-winner***, two-time Bram Stoker Award nominee** and Ditmar Awards nominee*, Greg Chapman is a horror author and artist based in Queensland Australia.
Greg is the author of the novels Hollow House, The Noctuary: Pandemonium and Netherkind and the collections, Vaudeville and Other Nightmares, This Sublime Darkness and Other Dark Stories, Bleak Precision, Midnight Masquerade and Black Days and Bloody Nights. His short fiction has also appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines.
His artistic endeavours include designing book covers for various publishers in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He has been creating book covers and artwork for IFWG Publishing since 2013. The first graphic novel he illustrated, Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times, written by Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton, won the Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel category at the Bram Stoker Awards® in 2013.
Greg was also the President of the Australasian Horror Writers Association from 2017-2020.
*** Best Collected Work, for Midnight Masquerade 2023 Australian Shadows Awards
** Superior Achievement in a First Novel for Hollow House (2016) and
Superior Achievement in Short Fiction, for “The Book of Last Words” (2019)
* Best Artwork (internal illustrations in “Polyphemus”) 2024
Greg is the author of the novels Hollow House, The Noctuary: Pandemonium and Netherkind and the collections, Vaudeville and Other Nightmares, This Sublime Darkness and Other Dark Stories, Bleak Precision, Midnight Masquerade and Black Days and Bloody Nights. His short fiction has also appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines.
His artistic endeavours include designing book covers for various publishers in Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. He has been creating book covers and artwork for IFWG Publishing since 2013. The first graphic novel he illustrated, Witch Hunts: A Graphic History of the Burning Times, written by Rocky Wood and Lisa Morton, won the Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel category at the Bram Stoker Awards® in 2013.
Greg was also the President of the Australasian Horror Writers Association from 2017-2020.
*** Best Collected Work, for Midnight Masquerade 2023 Australian Shadows Awards
** Superior Achievement in a First Novel for Hollow House (2016) and
Superior Achievement in Short Fiction, for “The Book of Last Words” (2019)
* Best Artwork (internal illustrations in “Polyphemus”) 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 30, 2022
It's hard to believe this is Greg Chapman's very first foray into the wonderful world of editing. Welcome aboard, mate, and let's hope you have the opportunity to stitch together a host of other horror magazines and anthologies in the future. Greg's hand can be felt steering the prose and verse collected here from start to finish; there's his trademark penchant for tales of descent, madness, and torture in which the supernatural is blurred with the psychological.
Issue 17 of Midnight Echo had me enjoying the fiction of both familiar names and authors whose work I'd not yet encountered. Mark Towse's "The Fruits of Labour" is the standout story in this issue, both haunting and horrifying the reader, and no doubt hitting close to home for many a fellow writer, while Matthew R. Davis shows us what it means to have a monster for a father and Claire Fitzpatrick doesn't fail to disappoint (as usual) with "The Lighthouse", a domestic thriller inspired by a grim real-life discovery. But let's not forget to mention one of the new names, for this reader at least; Geraldine Borella's "Hand and Heart" is a mind-bending tale that will have you questioning everything you think you know about everyone in your life, and the final line of dialogue is a ripper.
Congratulations to Greg Chapman and all the team on Midnight Echo #17.
Issue 17 of Midnight Echo had me enjoying the fiction of both familiar names and authors whose work I'd not yet encountered. Mark Towse's "The Fruits of Labour" is the standout story in this issue, both haunting and horrifying the reader, and no doubt hitting close to home for many a fellow writer, while Matthew R. Davis shows us what it means to have a monster for a father and Claire Fitzpatrick doesn't fail to disappoint (as usual) with "The Lighthouse", a domestic thriller inspired by a grim real-life discovery. But let's not forget to mention one of the new names, for this reader at least; Geraldine Borella's "Hand and Heart" is a mind-bending tale that will have you questioning everything you think you know about everyone in your life, and the final line of dialogue is a ripper.
Congratulations to Greg Chapman and all the team on Midnight Echo #17.
August 11, 2022
I’m a huge fan of Greg Chapman. Seriously – he’s ultra talented. Look at his artwork. Look at his written output. Heck, just go read ‘Netherkind.’ You’ll be a fan for life. I’m honored, as I’ll actually have two of my own books coming shortly with covers done by Greg!
So, when Greg reached out to see if I’d be keen to read the latest edition of Midnight Echo, which is the Magazine of the Australasian Horror Writers Association (AHWA), I agreed immediately. I was interested to see what Greg compiled within as Guest Editor. The bonus here is that, within the horror community, folks residing over in the geographical location have been killing it and when you look at the Table of Contents and see the names listed, you know you’ll be in for a good time.
This one featured 15 entries made up of short stories and poetry and the final two stories were included after winning prestigious writing contests!
What I liked: Even though this bad boy states ‘magazine’ on the cover, for all intents and purposes, this is an anthology. The difference here is that it has a statement from the current AHWA President (an author you’ll be familiar with), a note from Greg on editing and within there is artwork and some advertisements. Nothing that distracts or takes away from the reading, but that is the only thing that truly separates this from a traditional anthology.
Each story is solid and the poetry worked really well. The standouts for me were;
‘Feathers’ by Chris Mason. What starts out as a simple ‘expecting mom getting the baby’s room ready’ story morphs and transforms into a horrendously dark piece that has such a brutal ending.
‘The Fruits of Labour’ by Mark Towse. We follow an author who buys an estate in order to sequester himself and write his next novel. But the orchard trees grow fruit, and this writer does enjoy the taste. This goes to a number of places you’ll not expect, but wow was it unflinching.
‘The Tub’ by J. Ashley-Smith. WHAT THE?!?! Two friends are sneaking behind an old business when they discover an old, abandoned tub. You know the kind? Sitting on legs and deep. Well, you’ve never come across a tub this deep before. Loved this one and so, so unnerving.
‘Visitation Rites’ by Matthew R. Davis. I gotta be honest, I loved this story, but I don’t know if I fully liked the reality of the story. It’s hard to say and remain spoiler free. Essentially, this is a unique take on estranged parenting and protecting youth from the truth. Dark and heart-wrenching.
The absolute highlight for me though was the story ‘La Belle Morte Sans Merci’ by Kat Clay. This was just superb from start to finish. It follows a photographer in the 1800’s who becomes obsessed with human decay and trying to capture it on film. They become addicted to it and to the search to find it. Just a phenomenal body horror story and the lengths those will go for satisfaction.
What I didn’t like: As with every grouping of stories – whether a single author collection, or a mixed group in an anthology, some stories just may not connect with the reader. I found I enjoyed everything within, even if a few didn’t hit the boxes for me personally as a reader, but I often suspect those will be other readers favorites!
Why you should buy this: Chapman has put together a really amazing group of stories here. It starts on such a high and never really does back off of let down. I was a bit saddened to see there wasn’t a new short story from Greg himself.
Overall, a truly phenomenal effort of storytelling by a great group of writers. The AHWA should be proud of the work that has been put out here and for those who’ve either never grabbed an edition of Midnight Echo before, or haven’t read any of these authors, this would be a really solid place to dive in
So, when Greg reached out to see if I’d be keen to read the latest edition of Midnight Echo, which is the Magazine of the Australasian Horror Writers Association (AHWA), I agreed immediately. I was interested to see what Greg compiled within as Guest Editor. The bonus here is that, within the horror community, folks residing over in the geographical location have been killing it and when you look at the Table of Contents and see the names listed, you know you’ll be in for a good time.
This one featured 15 entries made up of short stories and poetry and the final two stories were included after winning prestigious writing contests!
What I liked: Even though this bad boy states ‘magazine’ on the cover, for all intents and purposes, this is an anthology. The difference here is that it has a statement from the current AHWA President (an author you’ll be familiar with), a note from Greg on editing and within there is artwork and some advertisements. Nothing that distracts or takes away from the reading, but that is the only thing that truly separates this from a traditional anthology.
Each story is solid and the poetry worked really well. The standouts for me were;
‘Feathers’ by Chris Mason. What starts out as a simple ‘expecting mom getting the baby’s room ready’ story morphs and transforms into a horrendously dark piece that has such a brutal ending.
‘The Fruits of Labour’ by Mark Towse. We follow an author who buys an estate in order to sequester himself and write his next novel. But the orchard trees grow fruit, and this writer does enjoy the taste. This goes to a number of places you’ll not expect, but wow was it unflinching.
‘The Tub’ by J. Ashley-Smith. WHAT THE?!?! Two friends are sneaking behind an old business when they discover an old, abandoned tub. You know the kind? Sitting on legs and deep. Well, you’ve never come across a tub this deep before. Loved this one and so, so unnerving.
‘Visitation Rites’ by Matthew R. Davis. I gotta be honest, I loved this story, but I don’t know if I fully liked the reality of the story. It’s hard to say and remain spoiler free. Essentially, this is a unique take on estranged parenting and protecting youth from the truth. Dark and heart-wrenching.
The absolute highlight for me though was the story ‘La Belle Morte Sans Merci’ by Kat Clay. This was just superb from start to finish. It follows a photographer in the 1800’s who becomes obsessed with human decay and trying to capture it on film. They become addicted to it and to the search to find it. Just a phenomenal body horror story and the lengths those will go for satisfaction.
What I didn’t like: As with every grouping of stories – whether a single author collection, or a mixed group in an anthology, some stories just may not connect with the reader. I found I enjoyed everything within, even if a few didn’t hit the boxes for me personally as a reader, but I often suspect those will be other readers favorites!
Why you should buy this: Chapman has put together a really amazing group of stories here. It starts on such a high and never really does back off of let down. I was a bit saddened to see there wasn’t a new short story from Greg himself.
Overall, a truly phenomenal effort of storytelling by a great group of writers. The AHWA should be proud of the work that has been put out here and for those who’ve either never grabbed an edition of Midnight Echo before, or haven’t read any of these authors, this would be a really solid place to dive in
August 18, 2022
Filled with Thrills and Chills.
A wonderfully put together and edited compilation of talented authors. Each story has something different to offer, and every one gives a gripping tale of the darkest facets of the human torment.
A wonderfully put together and edited compilation of talented authors. Each story has something different to offer, and every one gives a gripping tale of the darkest facets of the human torment.
November 13, 2022
This is an entertaining mix of horror-genre stories and poems. (I'm leaving my poem out of this review.) Editor Greg Chapman knows how to put the reader on the back foot; his choice of story order means that you're constantly surprised, and never know what to expect. Great stuff!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews