Collections Including Short Stories by Del Merritt
Lovecraftian Branches: Weird Tales Built on H.P. Lovecraft's Mythos
The companion to "Lovecraftian Roots," this book collects ten stories from H.P. Lovecraft (the tree's trunk) along with newer Lovecraftian stories (the branches).
Includes "The Hillside Altar" by Del Merritt
The book is edited and compiled by Gary Hill.
Spooky Houses: Spooky Fiction and Non-ficton Homebound Tales
"Every culture around the globe has its ghostly tales and legends. We’re fascinated by tales of the dead and love to shiver as we read of haunted houses and other places where the inhabitants aren’t always corporeal. 'Spooky Houses' has something for every aficionado of the weird and macabre. There are classic tales by Edgar Allen Poe, H.P. Lovecraft and others whose writings send that delicious chill down our spines. There are new tales of creeping terror, where attics contain more than memories, where bed-sheets are yanked away from unsuspecting sleepers and where closed rooms may contain secrets no one should know.
Also included are true ghost stories and legends, such as the Frank Shaver Allen House in Joliet, where a family were terrified by ghostly apparitions, and the George Stickney House in Woodstock, specifically built to keep ghosts from becoming trapped within its walls and encourage evil spirits to stay out. Here in 'Spooky Houses' you will find tales to make you shiver, tales that make you wonder what’s lurking in the shadows and tales to make you wonder if we’re ever REALLY alone in an old house."
- Stephen Osbourne - author of the “Duncan Andrews Thrillers” series
Includes "The Closed Room" By Del Merritt
The book is edited and compiled by Gary Hill.
FaithMare: A Collision of Religion and Horror
Gary Hill’s anthology, "Faithmare: A Collision of Religion and Horror" is truly a unique compilation—new from Tales of Wonder and Dread Publishing. As the title specifies, this collection is a “collision” of tales and poetry having to do with various intersections of religions (by no means all “orthodox”) and the realms of the horrific.
A compendium of contemporary and “classic” horror tales, the unifying theme is some connection to a religious belief. This, of course, invites the sub-genre of horror we call “The Occult.” This special branch presupposes, and we might argue “reinforces” a belief in some variety of religion (across different faiths and denominations). After all, if genuine Forces of Evil exist in the world, does that not argue for the existence of Forces of Good?
This unusual tome brings together a series of religious chillers that is a veritable cornucopia of creative concepts on the theme.
Includes “The Hillside Altar” by Del Merritt
This book is edited and compiled by Gary Hill.
Life Blood Two: More Vampire Tales
A vampire saves the Beatles. Another convinces ancient tribesmen that he is a god. A human treats a patient who’s been bitten and turned. Welcome to Life Blood Two: More Vampire Tales, a new collection of fiction and folk histories about exsanguination, exhumation, transfusion, and trickery. We also travel back to ancient Greece for an origin story about these bloodthirsty nocturnals. The authors in this anthology can’t guarantee that crosses and garlic will protect you. But their words will prompt you to think twice about venturing out at night – or not scattering a suspected revenant’s ashes.
= Dan Klefstad, author of Fiona’s Guardians
Includes “A Murder of Convenience” by Del Merritt
This book is edited and compiled by Gary Hill.
Horrifying Halloween: Halloween Poems and Tales
Halloween is an unusual holiday. For some people it lasts all year long, or at least they carry a little bit of Halloween with them throughout the year. That's definitely true of the editor of this book, and probably most (if not all) of the contributors. Another oddity about Halloween is that it's almost two different holidays - one for the children and one for the grown-up kids. This book gathers together poems and stories designed to appeal to both of those sides.
There are vintage stories from Mary Wilkins Freeman and Eleanor L. Skinner along with retro poems from J. K. Bangs, Joel Benton, George Francis Dawson, H. P. Lovecraft, A.F. Murray, Eleanor L. Skinner and Robert Louis Stevenson. Frank Coffman provides three new poems, and Eileen Eggert supplies one. Del Merritt and Paul Lubaczewski each contribute one story to the collection. R. C. Mulhare supplies two. Editor Gary Hill adds two brand new fiction stories and one non-fiction tale to round out the collection.
The book is divided into a family friendly section and a section that comes with more of a parental advisory. This book intends to supply written material to contribute to your Halloween celebrations and moods.
Includes “The Grimblegore” by Del Merritt
This book is edited and compiled by Gary Hill.
Sing a Song of Dread: The Place Where Music and Horror Meet
This anthology showcases stories based on music and horror.
The stories:
The Debut Tour by Gary Hill
B3/+ z ||| +h3 //|+cH H/Us (Beats in the Witch Haus) by R.C. Mulhare
19 Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell (1852)
I Saved The Beatles by Gary Hill
The Music of Erich Zann by H.P. Lovecraft (1921)
Blood on the Stage by R.C. Mulhare
Isabelle's Song by Del Merritt
On The Road With... by Gary Hill
Includes “Isabelle's Song” by Del Merritt
This book is edited and compiled by Gary Hill.
Horrifying Holidays Two: More Holiday Spookfest
Spooky stories for Christmas time are a time-honored tradition that has been forgotten in recent years. This book, along with its predecessor, is part of an effort to bring back that tradition. This edition features poetry from Frank Coffman and Gary Hill. It also includes one dramatized non-fiction piece by Ernie Fuhr. In terms of fiction, there are two stories that are collaborations by Gary Hill and Elizabeth Lynn Blackson. Gary Hill also has a solo story. The remaining fiction tales come from Del Merritt, R.C. Mulhare, Patrick J. Murphy III and Stephen Osborne.
While we hope your holidays are not truly horrifying, our wish is that this book will help you put a healthy helping of spooky into the season.
Includes “A Gost Story for Christmas” by Del Merritt
This book is edited and compiled by Gary Hill.