Guest Post by Tina Ayres

This is from Tina Ayres who edits THE ORIGINAL VAN GOGH'S EAR ANTHOLOGY.

Tina doesn't write often enough to please most of us and I really appreciate it when she does and allows me to be the first to set it free on the world.



You don't have to be dead to be a ghost. It is usually a gradual thing. A slow and steady decline of the quality of life and the acknowledgement of existence. We are all the same you see. Whether anyone likes to believe it or not. Some people just seem to slip between the cracks until the world seems to forget that they still are.

Isolation leads the soul to fear dying. It is not the death, nor being forgotten. It is the fear that the loneliness of life will follow you to the grave. Beyond the void, you will be stuck, as alone and invisible as when you were breathing. In life bearable in death eternal. Alone forever is a fate worse than hell.

Eternally alone. No words, no feelings just numb. Numb to the pain and blind to the masses. The matters of the world matter not when you are not in it.
It happens at all ages you know. The youngest of children alone on the playground. Children avoid them and the teachers whisper in the corners, "there is just something..wrong with them. They are not like the rest" They forget that we are all the same you see. It happens to the elderly who have the curse of watching their bodies decline, who have outlived everyone they have ever known. Sometimes you just find that in this world you are alone.

Alone and still living left without feeling. But that is just a lie. A lie to the self to help you keep going. Shut out the indifference and turn off your dreams. Hide your soul away, protect it well. Don't let them close. Never let them close. The world doesn't know. It cannot understand. No one can hurt you if you don't let them in. You love them all anyway that is just how you are.

People go about their lives unaware they encounter ghosts in the flesh nearly every day. The people who do not fit. The edge of madness for them is not so far. They walk around empty, stare at the walls. Silently longing, dreams never spoke. Listening intently silent for things no one else can hear.

It all comes down to closeness and love. A soul alone is a very lost thing. Love is the dream to which the soul clings. In life and in death buried within the self the one thing timeless, eternal and deep. The ageless eternal longing of the soul to just belong to another at the end of it all.

Copyright 2014 by Tina Ayres and Baryon.

New Donald Grant Newsletter

Donald M. Grant Publisher Newsletter # 90
Wed 8/27/2014 8:18 AM

Welcome to issue #90 of the Donald M. Grant Newsletter

27 August 2014

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. THE DARK TOWER: REMARQUED COPIES
2. DELUXE GOAD AVAILABLE
3. RAY BRADBURY SPECIAL OFFER
4. RICK BERRY ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE
5. PHIL HALE ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE
6. DESPERATION - GIFT EDITION
7. THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE - ARTIST EDITION
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note - If your order is over $300.00 you may pay in 3 monthly
installments. Please say so in the Comment box when you check
out. Your order will be shipped to you after the final payment is
made.

1. THE DARK TOWER: REMARQUED COPIES

Phil Hale, Dave McKean and Jae Lee have done original illustra-
tions in copies of the Dark Tower novels they illustrated. You
can choose the illustration you want and they will sold in the
order that we receive the on-line order (please do not phone
our office). If the book you want has been sold you will be
offered alternatives (putting second and third choices in your
order won't hurt).

Orders can be placed and images can be seen at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/DT2-Remarqued.html

2. DELUXE GOAD AVAILABLE

We have finally received the last 20 copies of the edition from
Phil. Unfortunately for us, his original binder in England had
retired and these last 20 books cost us more than $100 per copy
than the first ones that Phil sent us. Phil has signed these on
the limitation page as well as on the original pencil drawing that
is bound in.

They can be ordered at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-artists-phil-hale.html

3. RAY BRADBURY SPECIAL OFFER

We have only 3 copies left of the Lettered Edition of BRAD-
BURY: AN ILLUSTRATED LIFE by Jerry Weist. We will give
$200.00 off the total price if you order a copy of both the
Lettered Edition and the Limited 350 copy Numbered Edition.

You can of course order either edition alone at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-titles-bradbury.html

4. RICK BERRY ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE

Rick Berry has up for sale the original paintings he did for the
Easton Press limited Edition of Bram Stoker’s DRACULA. We
have posted them as a service to Rick and his fans and if you
wish to purchase one you will be dealing with Rick directly.
Images and information are posted at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/Rick_Berry_art_for_Sale_2014.html

5. PHIL HALE ORIGINAL ART FOR SALE

Phil Hale has created his own web side and is offering originals
for sale. You can check it out at:

http://philhalestudio.com/available_works.html

6. DESPERATION GIFT EDITION

In 2010 we sold our last copy of the Gift Edition of DESPER-
TION. Or so we thought. We just found a few cases of the book
in our warehouse/barn and have just 7 copies left. While they
last they are available at our original price of $75 plus shipping.
Illustrated by Don Maitz it was released a week prior to the
Viking Trade Edition:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-sk-desperation.html

7. THE WIND THROUGH THE KEYHOLE - ARTIST EDITION

You can still order copies of the slipcased Artist Edition (signed
by Jae Lee) of THE DARK TOWER: THE WIND THROUGH 
THE KEYHOLE at:

https://secure.grantbooks.com/z-sk-dt-twttk.html


Thank you.

Robert K. Wiener, President
Donald M. Grant, Publisher, Inc.


................................................................
This email should only be sent to those who have asked to receive it.
To unsubscribe, return to http://www.grantbooks.com and click the "unsubscribe" button.

A Note from Richard Kadey

Dear Reader,

James Stark, aka Sandman Slim, wasn’t a killer when he was unjustly sent to Hell, but he learned a lot about murder while he was Downtown. Stark escaped back to LA to take revenge on the men who killed his girlfriend and sent him into the Abyss. Along the way, he reluctantly saved the world from destruction. Now it looks like he has to do it one more time.

The old gods that once ran the universe are coming back and they’re not happy. With no help coming from God or Lucifer, Stark is the only person alive with the strange skill set to do anything about it. He just wants some time off, but finds he has to pull the world’s bacon out of the fire. Again.

I hope you enjoy the new book. It takes Stark into new areas, while calling back to his origins. Have a drink. Have a smoke. Punch a shark. Whatever you do to relax, and take a look at THE GETAWAY GOD, out today.

It has teeth, but it doesn’t bite. I promise.

Best,

Richard

Pray for Marines

We are asking everyone to say a prayer for "Dark horse" 3rd Battalion 5th Marines and their
families. They are fighting it out in Afghanistan & they have lost 12 marines in 4 days.
IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE the message spread if more people could pass it on.

Nothing has been in the media about these guys because no one seems to care, especially our 'president' and his wife.

They are: Justin Allen, 23; Brett Linley, 29; Matthew Weikert, 29; Justus Bartett, 27; Dave Santos, 21; Chase Stanley, 21; Jesse Reed, 26; Matthew Johnson, 21; Zachary Fisher, 24; Brandon King, 23; Christopher Goeke, 23; Sheldon Tate, 27.

All are Marines that gave their lives for YOU this week. Please pray for them, their families, and their country.

A note from The Writers of the Future Contest

Hello Barry


Congratulations to all Hugo nominees and winners. And a particular salute to our alumni:


Aliette de Bodard - Writer winner - WotF 23 - 2007

Brad Torgersen - Writer winner - WotF 26 - 2010

Sarah Webb - Illustrator winner - WotF 30 - 2014


Aliette was nominated for her short story "The Waiting Stars."


Brad was nominated for his novella "The Chaplain's Legacy" and his novellette "The Exchange Officers."


Sarah Webb was nominated for Best Fan Artist and she won the Hugo!


Best wishes,


Joni Labaqui

Writers & Illustrators Contest Director

HELLHOLE INFERNO AVAILABLE NOW

The planet Hellhole, ram shackled by an ancient asteroid impact, it is populated by the hardiest and most desperate colonists. It is one of fifty-four remote frontier worlds forced to pay tribute to the corrupt Constellation, which is ruled by decadent nobles. An exiled rebel general, Tiber Adolphus, was tough enough to keep his colony alive on Hellhole, and he has now mounted a second rebellion against the Constellation, much larger than his earlier failed attempt.

General Adolphus rallies his fellow rebels from across the vast Deep Zone to fight for their independence, while the ruthless leader of the Constellation, Diadem Michella, vows to eliminate the rebellion and all colonists on Hellhole.

As a barrage of deadly asteroids hurtles toward Hellhole, and the Constellation’s gigantic space fleet arrives for a final engagement against General Adolphus, the hardy settlers are caught between a human enemy that wants to demolish their colony and much more powerful aliens who can destroy not only themselves, but human civilization, as well as the foundations of the universe itself; eradicating the very reality that they exist in.

THIS IS VOLUME THREE OF THIS MARVELOUS WELL WRITTEN SERIES FROM THE SAME DYNAMIC DUO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BEST SELLING CONTINUATION OF THE DUNE SERIES. I THINK THE HELLHOLE SERIES IS A SHINING FEATHER IN THE CAPS OF BRIAN HERBERT AND KEVIN J. ANDERSON.

EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE FINISHING VOLUME OF THE TRILOGY, I HAVE HIGH HOPES OF MORE ADVENTURES OF GENERAL ADOLPHUS AND HIS LIBERATION FIGHTERS.

IT'S AVAILABLE FROM TOR AND SHOULD BE AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOK STORE.

Press Release from Solaris Books

A SOLARIS PRESS RELEASE For immediate release

WWW.SOLARISBOOKS.COM
Solaris Books™ is a trademark or registered trademark used by or under the licence of the Rebellion Group or its associated companies.

Nyctophobia
By Christopher Fowler

Some doors should never be opened.

UK: 9781781082102 | 9th October 2014 | £7.99
US: 9781781082058 | 28th October 2014 | $7.99

Available in paperback and ebook

“It’s a strange thing, nyctophobia. You’re not born with it. It can start at any time. It comes and goes, and it’s one of the only phobias you can transmit to other people.”

Hyperion House in southern Spain is an eccentric and remote place: serene and beautiful, but eerily symmetrical, and cunningly styled so that half the house is flooded with light, and half – locked up and neglected – is cloaked in darkness. But when recently qualified architect Callie Shaw and husband Mateo happen upon the building it seems the perfect home for their new family. Increasingly isolated in the foreign countryside, Callie determines upon a project to research the history of the curious building, and discovers instead that the past is sometimes best left alone. As a teenager Callie was afraid of the dark, and now with her adolescent nyctophobia returning she becomes convinced there’s someone in the shrouded rooms. In uncovering the folklore of the house’s strange history, Callie finds herself drawn into darkness and delusion. Somewhere in the shadows lurks the truth about Hyperion House…

WWW.SOLARISBOOKS.COM

Solaris Books™ is a trademark or registered trademark used by or under the licence of the Rebellion Group or its associated companies.
Nyctophobia is the stunning new stand-alone title from Horror master Christopher Fowler, which explores what it truly means to be haunted. Part ghost-story and part psychological-thriller; Nyctophobia is a beautifully written, cinematic masterpiece that draws readers into the nightmare world of Callie’s darkness, relentlessly building to the story’s chilling climax.

About the Author

Christopher Fowler is the award-winning author of over thirty novels and twelve short story collections, and the Bryant & May mystery novels, which record the adventures of two Golden Age detectives investigating impossible London crimes. His latest books are the sinister comedy-thriller Plastic, the memoir Film Freak and the haunted-house novel Nyctophobia. Other work includes the War of the Worlds videogame, a graphic novel and a Hammer horror radio play. He has a weekly column in The Independent On Sunday. He spends his time between London and Barcelona. Find out more at www.christopherfowler.co.uk.

The Blasted Lands by James A Moore

The Blasted Land, James A Moore, Angry Robot Books, Barry Hunter.

James A Moore continues to impress and surprising you. When you expect a right turn, he goes left. As we learn more about THE BLASTED LANDS, we learn more about ourselves and that is always a good thing. Well written, as always, and filled with action, some more subtle than active, and thought provoking surprises. Another notch is his library and I already have a space reserved for volume 3.

This is volume two of the SEVEN FORGES Trilogy (hoping for more), and is filled with some of his best writing. Thank you Jim and I apologize for the short review.

MAKE ARANGEMENTS IF YOU CAN. CHECK YOUR LOCAL AREA, THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE HELD IN EVERY STATE,

Welcome home!

Just watch...

I hardly ever do this, but this one is hard to just delete. It is a commercial with no spoken words, it is about one minute and I guaranty that you will have a little bit of mist in your eyes when it is over…it is a grocery store commercial, but that is not the point of the story illuminated…..



It is worth your time to watch.




http://stg.do/OdQg

More reviews from Harriet

Ashes of Twilight
Kassy Tayler
St. Martin's Griffin, $9.99
ISBN: 9780312641788

In 1878 English astronomers detected a comet heading straight to earth. Mankind constructed the great glass Dome to protect the royals and selected others from the comet that ultimately burned the sky.

One hundred and ninety-eight years after people moved inside the Dome, some residents want out. Alex a Shiner tells his friend Wren that “The sky is blue” outside the Dome before he tries to escape the smog-laden city. Alex fails in his attempt; his body burned and placed on display as a warning to other wannabe radicals. However, Alex’s efforts stir Wren to begin a quest with friends at her side even as civil war seems imminent inside the Dome especially with coal running out.

The first Ashes of Twilight post-apocalyptic thriller is a great environmental cautionary tale starring a wonderful coming of age heroine. The Taylor world inside the Dome seems genuine as the residents face the scarcity of the non-renewable energy source at a time when the 1% remains disinterested in what happens to the masses as long as their lifestyle remains intact. Action-packed, fans will appreciate this strong alternate vision of a world struggling to survive two centuries after the great cataclysmic comet changed the planet. Harriet Klausner


Moonshifted
Cassie Alexander
St. Martin’s, $7.99
ISBN 9780312553401

Edie Spence works as a nurse on floor Y4 of County Hospital. The patients on this floor are diversly paranormal. She and her friend Charles head to Rock Ronalds for lunch. They enter a crosswalk as does a silver haired man on the other side of the street. A truck slowing down for the light abruptly accelerates and hits the pedestrian. Charles and Edie rush over to help the injured Hit and Run victim; a werewolf still is alive due to the quick response of the nurses, but remains in critical condition.

After Anna the living vampire visits her to tell her she will be at a gala, Edie rests before starting her next shift where she learns her new patient is Karl Winter, the werewolf king. His daughter Helen, nephew Lucas and pack member Jorgen arrives demanding information from Edie who offers nothing to them. They howl at her and warn her to keep their king alive or else. Attracted to Lucas, Edie trusts none of the weres as bellicose adversarial packs are at war with one another.

The second Edie Spence urban fantasy (see Nightshifted) is a fabulous paranormal thriller starring a fascinating heroine who tries to stay outside the fray, but no one including dead relatives allows her to remain detached. Fast-paced from the moment the hit and run occurs and never slowing down, readers will relish a visit in the fabulous realm of Alexander the Great while looking forward to the next entry in the life of Edie Spence, nurse to the paranormal. Harriet Klausner

Reviews from Harriet

The Lazarus Machine
Paul Crilley
PYR, $16.95
ISBN: 9781616146887

Late in nineteenth century, the Ministry rules London with an iron fist. Seventeen year old Sebastian Tweed and his father know to avoid the Ministry while eking out an existence in the city. However everything changes when masked thugs terrorize London and kidnap Tweed’s dad.

One a year ago in London, teenager Octavia Nightingale’s mother vanished. She has diligently but unsuccessful searched for her mom while obtaining information on the thugs who abducted her mother. The two teens meet and team up in their respective quest to rescue their parent as all roads lead underground to the Ministry.

The Lazarus Machine is an entertaining steampunk investigative thriller. The teenage amateur sleuths and a couple abetting them are fascinating heroes struggling against a powerful governmental oligopoly using technology and size to launch plans for the Empire. Although there are more gizmos than Inspector Gadget possesses, which detract from the two teens challenging the invincible Goliath, readers will enjoy this action-packed alternate late Victorian. Harriet Klausner


The Creative Fire
Brenda Cooper
PYR, $17.95
ISBN 9781616146849

On the generation ship Creative Fire, the Reds run the show while the Grays are the manual labor pool. The Reds deploy the ship’s artificial intelligence and powerful weaponry to maintain the status quo hierarchy while the Grays, in spite of much greater numbers, acrimoniously perform the arduous tasks.

Ruby Martin is a rare Gray who is a Dreamer wanting a free future for herself and her race. She learns that they are bearing their destination of what will be their new home planet, which orbits the star Adiamo. Courageous Ruby carefully challenges the establishment as she believes change is needed. Ruby becomes the focal point of demands for the downtrodden Grays to be freed.

The first Ruby’s Song science fiction thriller focuses on class warfare between a powerful ruling minority and enslaved populace. The story line is great when intelligent quick witted Ruby is front and center; but loses some traction when her fellow male rebels take the lead. Still readers will enjoy Ruby’s quest for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Harriet Klausner


Undeadly
Michele Vail
Harlequin Teen, $9.99
ISBN: 9780373210466

Molly Bartolucci’s father owns Big Al’s Zomporium; the place where a person can have someone recently deceased turned into a zombie. Wanting to just fit in at high school, Molly knows her ability to remove souls from bodies makes that difficult. On her sixteenth birthday she learns how hard it is when her boyfriend Rick kisses her, dies in an accident, and she sort of brings him back.

Anubis selects Molly as a reaper. Her long lost missing grandparents arrive sending her to Nekyia Academy for necromancer rookies. Rath the reaper, whose work she recently unraveled, is selected to mentor her. Rick follows her to the school. Soon afterward, students die and her mentor vanishes. Fearing Rick is involved, Molly investigates.

The first Reaper Diaries young adult fantasy stars a wonderful teenage who acts like a sixteen years old person as she struggles with all sorts of tsuris. The storyline is character driven by Molly who narrates the plot through her first person account and her dairy. Although readers obtain incredible insight into her and how she perceives the world (and beyond), the rest of the cast including the two males in her life are only seen though her filter and thus underdeveloped. Still, fans will appreciate unsinkable Molly Bartolucci reaper rookie. Harriet Klausner