“She felt something hold her hand, place the daisy firmly inside, and close her fingers around it.”
Author Bernie Brown is the author of two stories in HALLOWEEN PARTY ’21, one of which is “Hopscotch.” As its title implies, this tale focuses around an innocent game of hopscotch, but things aren’t quite what they seem.
If you don’t already own a copy of HP ’21, we strongly recommend purchasing the collection for yourself, which you can find at quality bookstores. Alternatively, and for more immediate gratification, simply click the link below to purchase from Amazon.
The original, unpublished, cover to Halloween Party ’21.
The 1946 novel, Murder in the Glass Room, is famous for coining the phrase, “You can never tell a book by its cover.” And while this statement has proven true more times than you or I can count, the fact remains that covers and cover design are important aspects of any book regardless of genre or target audience.
Di and I typically collaborate on our covers. Sometimes she’ll come up with the concept, other times I will. By the time all is said and done we’ve done numerous revisions and edits to arrive at what we believe best represents our company/brand as well as our authors, and is likely to capture the attention of the potential buyer.
In the case of HP ’21, I had an idea early on of a porch scene involving a number of children and a ghastly specter. (The original pencils, which I’ll scan and share next time, have even more nasty elements.) As I sketched out the art and began to add colors and texture, I felt fairly confident that the cover would hit the mark. It was only after I completed the page that I realized, almost immediately, that it was wrong for the book. Nevertheless, I scanned the art and imported it into a cover template, but seeing it laid out (the image above) only convinced me further that the art was wrong for HP ’21. Di agreed.
Several aspects of this planned cover troubled me. First, I felt that it was more suited for a young adult or children’s title. It’s not reflective of the seriousness of most of the works found in HP ’21 and I felt it might mislead potential buyers. As well, it’s a big departure from our established house style. Second, I made the mistake of not following the aspect ratio of the cover template. As such, a fair amount of the art on the original board didn’t even make it into the cover template. The back cover, for instance, contains an open coffin with a body inside and lots of rats crawling around it. All lost due to the aspect ratio mismatch. Third, I wanted there to be body parts sticking out the top of the candy bowl. I felt that this element would have given the cover a bit of an edge, but it might just as likely looked silly so it was never incorporated. Lastly, a lot of nuances were lost in the scanning process. I could have redone the scan, but it wouldn’t have resolved the overarching issues.
From a technical perspective I was pleased with the finished product. Having not drawn in ages, I had a number of reservations as to whether I could translate my original sketch into a finished piece. Although I invested a lot of time in the art, I’m not disappointed that we passed on it. What ultimately matters is that the book’s cover is the best it can possibly be. And while I think this cover is okay, I know we made the right decision in passing on it. It’s possible that this art might one day find a home. It’s just not meant to reside with the Halloween Party series.
Speaking of which, if you don’t already own a copy of HP ’21, we strongly recommend purchasing the collection for yourself, which you can find at quality bookstores. Alternatively, and for more immediate gratification, simply click the link below to purchase from Amazon.
“Legend says that beneath this mausoleum, deep in the ground, lie the bones of a witch…”
Author Kim DeCicco offers up an eerie tale certain to stay in your head long after you’ve read the last words. We’re thrilled to have this tale in HALLOWEEN PARTY ’21 and we think you’ll find that it’s rather special and particularly unique.
If you don’t already own a copy of HP ’21, we strongly recommend purchasing the collection for yourself, which you can find at quality bookstores. Alternatively, and for more immediate gratification, simply click the link below to purchase from Amazon.
I’ve never believed in the supernatural, but I couldn’t help worrying that something had happened to Eun-ji and that she was reaching out to me…
Author Phil Guinta‘s “Before She’s Gone Forever” is the kind of supernatural tale that editors simply love. It sticks with you long after you’ve finished the last page and makes you feel like the time you’ve invested in it was time very well spent. We’re fortunate to have this work in Halloween Party ’21. Phil’s is a powerful, imaginative story that is sure to age quite well and is worthy of multiple reads.
If you don’t already own a copy of the paperback, we strongly recommend purchasing the collection for yourself, which you can find at quality bookstores. Alternatively, and for more immediate gratification, simply click the link below to purchase from Amazon.
Nancy North Walker presents “Insecticide,” a short story featured in HALLOWEEN PARTY ’21 that effortlessly combines terror and science fiction.
To experience the full horror, we strongly recommend purchasing a copy of the collection for yourself, which you can find at quality bookstores. Alternatively, and for more immediate gratification, simply click the link below to purchase from Amazon.
They were moving on without him, their head lamps bobbing off in the darkness…
Thus begins R. David Fulcher’s tale of terror, “Aristotle’s Lantern,” one of the many stories that comprise our latest horror collection, HALLOWEEN PARTY ’21.
To hear and see David read his tale, simply click the link above. Though to experience the full horror, we vehemently recommend purchasing a copy of the collection for yourself, which you can find at quality bookstores. Alternatively, and for more immediate gratification, simply click the link below to purchase from Amazon.
Robert Fleming’s poem, Elevator of Blood, is directly inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s 1979 horror classic, THE SHINING, which, itself, is an adaptation of the equally classic novel by Stephen King first published in 1977.
Robert’s poem and his recording summarize what has been, over the years, documented as a particularly intense Kubrick shoot. Robert captures this intensity as it relates to the infamous and beautifully captured elevator doors of the Overlook Hotel which [spoiler alert] open to reveal a tsunami of blood. It’s easily one of the most visually memorable and disquieting scenes ever filmed.
If you enjoy Robert’s recording be sure to purchase a copy of HALLOWEEN PARTY ’21 to support Gravelight and indy authors like Robert.
Here’s the trailer for EXHUMED. While we wish we could have included quotes from all thirteen stories, it wasn’t feasible given our desired run time of 90 seconds. If you enjoy the trailer, be sure to pick up a copy of the book, available now at Amazon.
Renowned Kansas Book Critic Jeffrey D. Keeten Provides Introduction to New Release
Exhumed arrives August 14, 2020.
AUGUST 8, 2020: MILTON, DELAWARE – Gravelight Press is thrilled to announce that Jeffrey D. Keeten will be providing the introduction to its first release, EXHUMED: 13 TALES TOO TERRIFYING TO STAY DEAD. A prolific critic of film and literature, Keeten is among the top five reviewers on Goodreads, the largest site for book reviews in the world. A graduate of the University of Arizona and current resident of Dodge City, Kansas, he has published more than 3,700 reviews for Goodreads and other sites.
Gravelight Press is the horror imprint of the award-winning publishing house, Devil’s Party Press, LLC (DPP) located in historic Milton, Delaware. As with DPP, Gravelight will focus on providing older authors with publishing opportunities. Publisher Dianne Pearce noted that, “Gravelight is thrilled to have Jeffrey Keeten who, in addition to being a skilled critic, is also a terrific writer, along for Gravelight’s upcoming book release.” “It’s exciting to be a part of this collection,” said Keeten. “There are some truly frightening works between its covers.”
EXHUMED (ISBN: 978-1-7340918-1-6) retails for $9.99 and features original short fiction by thirteen authors from the US and Canada. It is scheduled to be released on Friday, August 14. For more information and to preorder, visit gravelightpress.com. For more information about Jeffrey D. Keeten, visit jeffreykeeten.com.
GRAVELIGHT PRESS 