Give Away & Spotlight On "Day of Demons" Anthology

A few months back, I posted an info piece about a publisher, Anachron Press, that was accepting submissions for dark fantasy and horror stories. Well, the anthology has been released and thanks to the generosity of Colin at Anachron Press, I have 2 copies up for grabs, 1 print and 1 e-book.

Book Blurb (from publisher):

Day of Demons is a collection of powerful stories featuring the conflict of demons and humans over the course of a day.

Read how one woman’s inner-self awakens to unexpected and frightening consequences, or how a charismatic half-breed thief is forced to strike a deal with a pen-stealing imp. Read about a mother as she struggles to cope with a deadly, satanic bargain, and a sword-wielding anti-hero as he returns out of exile to face his demonic fate.

Nine stories, nine demons, nine authors. From fantasy, to horror, to contemporary fiction, this anthology will fright, delight and grip you with tales of daring-do, danger and of course — demons.

 DAY OF DEMONS
Publisher: Anachron Press

ASIN: B007SYEU52
Genre: FICTION, FANTASY, DARK FANTASY, HORROR

Format: PAPERBACK, EBOOK

Length:  314 KB, 128 Pages
Release Date: April 9, 2012

Website

Stories & Contributors: 

• Deal by Karen Davies
• Inheritance by Phil Hickes
• Serpent’s Kiss by Krista Walsh
• Sam & The Spear by Gary Bonn
• Numen by V. Đ. Griesdoorn
• City of Light and Stone by Laura Diamond
• Cost of Glory by Edward Drake
• A Mother’s Love by James M. Mazzaro
• The Devil and Mrs Milton by Sarah Anne Langton 

Buying Links:

Amazon US 

Amazon UK

Anachron Press

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EXCERPT

There is something quite exhilarating about headlong flight. Fear of the unknown is forgotten when that which is behind one is far more dreadful than anything that may lie ahead. It’s liberating, like being a child again, although I was never chased by a dragon when I was a child.

As dire as the situation was, I felt an overwhelming urge to laugh. I gave a wild whoop! It was a challenge; an exultation. Every fibre of my being sang with the sheer joy of being alive at that precise moment in time. Then the skin on my back was lashed by a lick of icy breath and the ground trembled beneath the force of the dragon’s furious roar.

 The trees bore the brunt of the blast, but the merest touch of cold fire had peeled the skin from my shoulder and shattered the bow and quiver that were slung across my back. I staggered; arms wind-milling, feet scrabbling for purchase. I fought to keep my balance—if I fell now, I was dead. I dug my claws into the stony ground and ran like all the demons of hell were chasing me. My thoasan side has blessed me with that races’ speed; alas, I have the meagre stamina of a human. The dragon was reeling me in, devouring my small lead with every beat of its huge, coriaceous wings. Its ice-breath turned trees to frozen splinters and rocks to dust.

 Alas, in this instance, crime had not paid. Something I didn’t think I’d live long enough to regret. The thought occurred that if I discarded the gem, the dragon might forget about me.

“Hope is for fools, and only losers rely on luck—more wine!”

Ah. The wise words of dear old mama came back to me as I ran from the snapping jaws of death. I could just see her; slouched majestically across the Rat Bone Throne, goblet in hand—doling out her knowledge, just before passing out. Throwing the stone away was pointless, an act of desperation. Why would the great, flying, sack of shit stop to retrieve its treasure when it could go back for it after it had turned me into a frozen, bloody pulp? It wouldn’t. Like me, the big ugly bastard was greedy. It wanted everything. And even if the distraction worked, and I escaped from this particular pot of arse-pickle without the gem, I was dead anyway. To return to the Guild empty-handed or worse, try to flee would bring a far harder death than any the dragon could mete out. True enough, the beast was savage and…quite angry, but it was far less terrifying than the Guild blades who had elevated gross brutality to an art form.

The world exploded, shattering my chain of thought.

A wave of ice and snow engulfed me. I struggled to see through the blistering white glare. Jagged fractures opened in the mountainside, and a thousand shards of ice exploded in all directions. I narrowed my eyes against the stinging hail, and stole a glance over my shoulder. The dragon was tearing through the remains of a stand of pines, less than thirty feet away. It fixed its pale, blue eyes on me and bared its sabre fangs. The air was awed to stillness; the thunder of my heart froze. There stood death; sharp and cold. While my eyes were taking in the full measure of my doom, my legs kept running—an attempt by my body to preserve itself while my mind was busy being terrified.

‘Tis a most disturbing feeling: stepping into nothing when you’re expecting something.

I fell from painful brightness into utter darkness. The breath was hammered from my body as I rebounded off the uneven sides of the hole. The steel chapes of my scabbards struck sparking trails off stones. I dug my claws into the frozen soil and managed to slow my descent. The hole opened up. I grabbed at the edge, hung suspended for a moment in the black void. Before I could even attempt to haul myself back up, the stone I was holding onto gave way, and I fell again.

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OK, as I mentioned above, Anachron Press is offering up one print copy and one ebook copy, both open internationally so spread the word! You can try some new to you authors and maybe find a new favorite  or two. 

Please read my Giveaway Policy. 

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