My Year in Writing – 2015

2015 – my year in Horror Fiction writing

The Devil’s Avatar
The year started very early on Jan 6th with the paperback release of Stomping Grounds, an anthology collection of Giant Monster stories (also available on Kindle). In my story, The Devil’s Avatar a jealous scientist uses an ancient machine that combines spiritual and alchemic aspects to create an unstoppable monster. His twisted mind creates a giant clown to seek out his reluctant lady love and destroy the town in the process. However, his rival also uses the machine, bringing to life a giant Paul Bunyan statue, to fight back and save the damsel in distress. The two battle it out in the center of a small Midwest town in this homage to classic 1950’s American Giant Monster films.

Why you should read. Stomping Grounds contains the best giant monster stories I’ve read in some time. Each story is packed with people crushing, earth quaking action. I’ve read quite a few books in this sub-genre and this one is top notch. I’d say this is the best book I’ve been in during 2015!

The Obsidian Box
My story in the Ghosts Revenge anthology deals with an ex-mobster who wants to ‘off’’ his wife but keep his hands clean. He decides to use an angry spirit to do his dirty work, but how do you control the uncontrollable? I found most of the stories in Ghosts Revenge to be entertaining. They were all written well exhibiting top quality. For a few of them, while written well, I just didn’t like the style, but that’s just a matter of personal tastes. Others I found outstanding. If you like violent ghost stories, this is a great book to dive into. My second fave book for the year. Ghosts Revenge anthology

Vector 7
Sirens Call ezine issue #20
The theme in this issue was ‘a scream in the night.’ I brushed off and tightened up a story about a guy who frequents S&M chat rooms. During the night the lines between fantasy and reality are blurred when he hears a lone scream in his apartment building.  Sirens Call ezine (scroll down to issue #20 and download the pdf for free)

Bon Fire
This is a Halloween Horror story published at Cemetery Tomes. Originally released in my chapbook, The Clock Tower Black, the story follows a group of friends who tell stories on Halloween around a blazing fire in the woods. It’s kinda’ like horror-lite for me, reading for all ages. Cemetery Tomes

Thanksgiving Day Surprise
I noticed that I hadn’t written much this year so I decided to write some flash fiction for the Holidays. I wrote three new stories. This is the first, which you can read FREE, right here on the Parlor of Horror site. Thanksgiving Day Surprise

Skin Job – release to be announced
For much of the year I decided to forego any other writing and only concentrate on this story for inclusion in the Terry M. West, Car-Nex series of stories and eBook releases. I figured it was the most important of any project and decided to put my full efforts behind it, turning down invitations to several other anthologies. I received word in November that my story was excepted for the project. I don’t have a definitive timeline on its release as of yet. Pleasant Storm Entertainment

Unleashed in the East
This story was published in the anthology, Kaiju: Lords of the Earth. I wrote this early in the year. It’s only about 10 pages (2,500 words), but I think it’s a very strong story with a solid emotional edge. ‘Unleashed…’ keeps in line with traditional Kaiju while adding a Lovecraftian twist. It is also inspired by a current event news item. I have to say there are only a few stories in this book that feel like true Kaiju stories to me. Kaiju to me has more to it than a giant monster. I based my story upon early Kaiju film ideas, plot-lines and messages. Hopefully it does honor the Kaiju genre respectfully. ‘Unleashed in the East’ in Kaiju: Lords of the Earth.

Christmas Lights
Here’s the 2nd flash fiction piece concerning holidays. It’s my Christmas gift to my followers. Read it for FREE here at Parlor of Horror. This is actually part of a series of flash fiction stories I’m writing dealing with the last few moments of life for each character. I plan on calling the series ‘Moments of Death’ or something close to it. Check it out here: Christmas Lights

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I finally set up a Goodreads Author Page for my published work in anthology books, You can check it out here: Michael Thomas-Knight – Goodreads

You can also check my Amazon Authors Page for the latest releases.
And join me on Facebook for discussions of horror and vintage monster model kits.

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Because of my illness this year, I didn’t have much time to write any articles or guest blog posts outside of my POH posts. I hope 2016 offers me more opportunities to write articles in the horror field. And I hope that any of you that wish to write fiction and haven’t taken that step toward getting your stories published will go for it in 2016! What do you have to loose? Feel free to ask me any questions about writing, submitting your work to publications, or even advice on your stories. I’m no expert but I’ll give you an unbiased opinion…and I read a lot of horror.