NIGHT CREATURES: BOOK AND LAUNCH

Night Creatures: An Anthology of Nocturnal Stories will be published by Exile in the Margins this coming October, 2026. Twelve (short) stories to signify the midnight hour, with contributions from David Banning, Liliana Carstea, Paul Crosby, William Curnow, Anthony Fielding, Karim Ghahwagi, Helen Grant, Timothy J. Jarvis, Martin Jones, Rik Rawling, R.B. Russell and Jamie Walsh. 

Cover painting by Derek Gray.

We will be hosting a pre-Halloween launch for Night Creatures at the Dovecot Gallery, Styrrup, on Saturday 24th October at 7p.m. The evening will include story readings by some of the contributors, a Q&A, book sales and signings, wine, nibbles and possibly some music... Come along and yield to the dark!

Tickets are £5 each. Please email dovecotgallery@gmail.com to purchase. 

More book and event details soon...

Carpe noctem!

ASWIRL: ISSUE THIRTEEN

Aswirl, "the minimal quarterly", has just published its spring issue (#13). In a burning world where everyone seems to be scrambling to play more nights at Wembley Stadium than anyone else, it's inspiring to know that, for some, small is indeed beautiful. Editor Robin Boothroyd has created a unique art object in this publication, from the ace design to the power of each contributor's poems within (plus my own effort, 'The Waiting Room'). Support independent publishers and purchase a copy here, or why not subscribe for the whole year... ?

DRACULA HAS RISEN!

Thanks to everyone who attended my rescheduled Halloween talk, Dracula: Eighty years Undead, on Thursday 15th January. It was a dark and chill night, but from the Vampire Shrine (above) onwards a great time was had by all, with almost a full house audience. I discussed the story and background of Bram Stoker's novel, aided by eight key scenes from eight different screen adaptations (in this order): Dracula (1931), Dracula (Mystery and Imagination, 1968), Nosferatu (1922), Count Dracula (1970), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1974), Dracula (1931, Spanish version), Count Dracula (1977) and Dracula (1958). See you next Halloween!

 

YESTERDAY'S BEACHES

The final part in my 'coastal trilogy' (see also: Withernsea, Nothing Spectral Just Offshore) is available to order HERE.

Yesterday's Beaches collects ten works of poetry/prose to create a highly-personal eulogy for lives and places lost and forgotten.

Front and back cover art by Rik Rawling.

A5 booklet. 24 pages. 50 numbered copies. *SOLD OUT*

BEDABBLED!#8: 'A DAY AT THE BEACH'

Bedabbled!#8: 'A Day At The Beach' is now available to order HERE.

The Journal of British Horror and Cult Cinema rolls up its trousers and takes a trip to the coast to paddle in the dirty waters of That Summer!, Island of Terror, The Damned, The Shuttered Room, Neither The Sea Nor The Sand, The Flesh and Blood Show and much more... #8 also includes a free bonus 'I Scream At The Seaside' treasure hunt: reader, can you find Jerzy Skolimowski's The Shout, Roman Polanski's Cul-de-sac and traces of M.R. James within these pages?

With writing by David Banning, Matthew Callingham, Neil Jackson, Timothy J. Jarvis, Martin Jones, Sarah Morgan and Jim O'Brien; and original art by Leylah Charlotte, Derek Gray, Neil Jackson, Martin Jones, Victoria Kemp, Rik Rawling and Oliver Tomlinson. 

Front and back cover art by Derek Gray.

A5 perfect-bound book. 72 pages. 100 unnumbered copies.

HALLOWEEN TALK '25

On Thursday 30th October I'll be presenting my annual Halloween talk at Retford Library. This year, it's Dracula: Eighty Years Undead, and I'll be discussing Bram Stoker's novel and its cultural/cinematic influence between publication (1897) and the broadcast of the BBC's faithful adaptation, Count Dracula (1977) eighty years later - with lots of tasty diversions in-between. 

The event starts at 6p.m. and usually lasts for an hour or so, with an interval for (red) wine and nibbles. Tickets are £3.00 and can be reserved/purchased by emailing Retford.library@inspireculture.org.uk or telephoning 01777 708724. 

Come freely. Go safely; and leave something of the happiness you bring!

(Vespertine poster art by Derek Gray.)

*UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances this event is postponed until further notice*

 

A GEOGRAPHY OF ABSENCE

Cumbrian artist and friend in Exile Julian Hyde (see Desire Path) currently has a small exhibition in progress at Windermere Library: A Geography of Absence combines photos, found objects and collage. Having been an admirer of his work for some years, I was chuffed when Julian asked me to pen a few words for the event: 

Julian Hyde’s images and words are not, as the casual viewer might think, out of focus: the skill is, when you have five square miles of water nearby filled with giftshop swallows and rabbits, amazons and poets, to aim your focus elsewhere, forget emotions dampened by the moisture of unseen lakes, and find another path, towards, for example, an unloved garage door trapped by the same beams of sunlight that bless a thousand Range Rover visitors: a shared skin peeling, flaking, disintegrating, smelling either of Dulux Weathershield or Ambre Solaire…

For more information you can contact Julian here: j_kane001@hotmail.com.