Michael Arnzen (http://gorelets.com) is an award-winning author of horror and dark suspense fiction, a poet, and an English professor. His trophy case includes four Bram Stoker Awards and an International Horror Guild Award for his often funny, always disturbing stories. The best of these appear in the Bram Stoker Award-winning career-length retrospective, Proverbs for Monsters, which Dread Central called "a guided tour of insanity and the macabre, with a few moments of touching grace combined with repulsive terror...[which] serves to document the evolution of a great writer."

Arnzen holds a PhD in English from the University of Oregon (where he researched his non-fiction book, The Popular Uncanny) and he is presently a Professor at Seton Hill University, where he teaches horror and suspense fiction in the country's only graduate program in Writing Popular Fiction (http://fiction.setonhill.edu).

Arnzen resides near Pittsburgh, PA.

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"In a little over a decade, Michael A. Arnzen has achieved what few writers manage in a lifetime. He has become the master of a brand of literature that is uniquely his own, and I do not doubt that his approach to horror will soon (if it has not already) be referred to as 'Arnzenian.' When you begin an Arnzen story, you embark on a journey where the old maps do not apply. Soon you find yourself deep in new territory, barreling through landscapes more fascinating and twisted than any previously encountered. Be assured, you will be amazed, startled, amused, and creeped out along the way, but whatever the road has in store, you will not be able to stop reading until the story ends. Horrifying, captivating, ironic -- Arnzenian! -- the works of Michael A. Arnzen are in a class all their own. Fasten your seat belts and enjoy the ride!" -- Lawrence C. Connolly, author of Veins

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Lucy A. Snyder is the five-time Bram Stoker Award-winning and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of 14 books:

* Sister, Maiden, Monster

* Halloween Season

* Exposed Nerves

* Garden of Eldritch Delights

* While the Black Stars Burn

* Spellbent

* Shotgun Sorceress

* Switchblade Goddess

* Soft Apocalypses

* Orchid Carousals

* Sparks and Shadows

* Chimeric Machines

* Installing Linux on a Dead Badger

* Shooting Yourself in the Head For Fun and Profit: A Writer's Survival Guide

Her writing has been translated into French, Russian, Italian, Czech, and Japanese editions and has appeared in publications such as Apex Magazine, Nightmare Magazine, Pseudopod, Strange Horizons, Weird Tales, Steampunk World, and Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 5.

She has an MFA in creative writing from Goddard College and lives in Ohio. You can follow her on Twitter at @LucyASnyder.

You can learn more at her website: www.lucysnyder.com

Michael McCarty has been a professional writer since 1983 and the author of over forty books of fiction and nonfiction, as well as hundreds of articles, short stories and poems. He is a Five-Time Bram Stoker Finalist and winner of the David R. Collins' Literary Achievement Award from the Midwest Writing Center.

He is the author of such books DARK CITIES: DARK TALES, DARK DUETS: MUSICAL MAYHEM, A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FIENDS, I KISSED A GHOUL and LOST GIRL OF THE LAKE (with Joe McKinney)

In Nonfiction, he wrote MODERN MYTHMAKERS (Crystal Lake Publications) a collection of interviews with Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz, John Saul, Elvira, William F. Nolan, the cast & crew of Night of the Living Dead and several more. He also co-written the book CONVERSATIONS WITH KRESKIN with The Amazing Kreskin (Team Kreskin Productions) a cornucopia of stories of Kreskin's Amazing life, culture, famous friends, inside knowledge of entertainment personalities, his mind power, thought reading, and much more. ESOTERIA-LAND the Authentic, Eclectic & Eccentric Nonfiction of Michael McCarty and GHOSTS OF THE QUAD CITIES (with Mark McLaughlin) true ghost stories in the Quad Cities metro area.

Michael McCarty have written the following fiction books with Mark McLaughlin: DRACULA TRANSFORMED & OTHER BLOODTHIRSTY TALES (Dracula & vampire short stories and novellas), APOCALYPSE AMERICA! a science fiction and horror novel and MONSTER BEHIND THE WHEEL a horror novel.

Michael McCarty & Jody LaGreca wrote the BLOODLESS series together (published by Simon & Schuster (as a kindle) and Amazon as a trade paperback. The three book series BLOODLESS, BLOODLUST and BLOODLINE is about a 100 year old vampire who survives both the sinking of the Lusitania and the Hindenburgh explosion but has a hard time dealing with his family.

His stories and interviews have appeared in a wide variety of magazines and anthologies including Fangoria, Cemetery Dance, Starlog, Filmfax, ON WRITING HORROR (A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association, edited by Mort Castle), MIDNIGHT PREMIERE and IN LAYMON TERMS (both anthos from Cemetery Dance publications).

McCarty's first solo novel, a vampire satire called LIQUID DIET, was released in 2009 release by Black Death/Demonic Clown Books and republished as an ebook as LIQUID DIET & MIDNIGHT SNACK: 2 VAMPIRE SATIRES from Whiskey Creek Press. McCarty was the former staff writer for Science Fiction Weekly (the official website of the Sci-Fi Channel). He can be found on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/MichaelMcCarty.Horror

Kenneth W. Cain is an author of horror and dark fiction, and a Splatterpunk Award nominated freelance editor. He is also the publisher and editor-in-chief at Crystal Lake: Torrid Waters. Cain is an Active member of the HWA and a Full member of the SFWA. To date, he has had over one hundred short stories and thirteen novels/novellas, as well as a handful each of nonfiction pieces, books for children, and poems released by many great publishers such as Crystal Lake Publishing, JournalStone, and Cemetery Gates Media. He has also edited ten anthologies, with a new one coming in 2024. Cain suffers from chronic pain, and as such, likes to keep busy. He lives in Chester County PA with his family and two furbabies, Butterbean and Bodhi. His full publishing history is available on his website.

TAYLOR GRANT is a two-time Bram Stoker Award Finalist, professional screenwriter, and award-winning filmmaker. His work has been seen on network television, the big screen, the stage, the web, newspapers, comic books, national magazines, anthologies, and heard on the radio.

As an author, he has shared pages with Stephen King, Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Kelley Armstrong, Joe R. Lansdale, Peter Straub, Bentley Little, and many of the top writers in speculative fiction. Taylor's comic adaptation of "Rot & Ruin" has nearly 14 million reads and was consistently the #1 horror comic at WEBTOON, the world's largest digital comic platform during its run.

His first book, "The Dark at the End of the Tunnel" was nominated for the prestigious Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Collection.

His critically-acclaimed collection "The Many Deaths of Cole Parker" was reviewed by Kirkus Reviews as "Acute horror tales that are as enthralling as they are outright scary."

Here are his most recent story appearances:

- "Red Christmas" can be found in: "Shallow Waters: Special Christmas Edition" published in Dec, 2023,

- "Don't Open Your Eyes" appeared in issue #47 of the classic magazine "Weirdbook," published in Jan, 2024.

- "Glimmergrim" was featured in "To Hell and Back", an anthology published by Hellbound Books Feb, 2024.

- "The Painted Unseen" appears in the legendary "Weird Tales" Magazine in April, 2024.

-"Prey" appears in Sirens Call Magazine April 2024.

Upcoming works include a story in "Hotel Macabre" a new anthology releasing Oct 2024, and a graphic novel based on one of the biggest horror franchises coming in 2025. His third collection will be released in May 2025 by Crystal Lake Publishing, and includes science fiction, suspense, horror, and crime fiction.

Taylor is an Active Member of the International Thriller Writers and the Horror Writers Association.

Armand Rosamilia is a New Jersey boy currently living in sunny Florida, where he writes when he's not sleeping. He's happily married to a woman who helps his career and is supportive, which is all he ever wanted in life...

He's written over 200 stories that are currently available, including crime thrillers, supernatural thrillers, horror, zombies, contemporary fiction, nonfiction and more. His goal is to write a good story and not worry about genre labels.

He also loves to talk in third person... because he's really that cool. Maybe.

One of Horror's most respected authors, Iain Rob Wright is the writer of nearly 50 books, many of them bestsellers. A mainstay in the horror charts, Iain is a prolific producer of unique and original stories. From his apocalyptic saga The Gates to his claustrophobic revenge thriller ASBO, Iain writes across a broad spectrum of sub genres, creating both beloved series and standalone titles.

With work available in several languages and in audio, Iain Rob Wright is one of the fastest rising stars in horror, but when not writing he is a dedicated family man. Father to Jack and Molly, and husband to Sally, he is often seen sharing his family memories with his fans on Facebook.

To get 6 of his books for free (no strings), just visit his official website.

Joe Mynhardt stands as a paragon in the horror literary world, a Bram Stoker Award-winning South African publisher, editor, and mentor with over a decade of experience. As the founder and CEO of Crystal Lake Entertainment, Joe has transformed a humble 2012 startup into a multifaceted Intellectual Property powerhouse. Under his visionary leadership, Crystal Lake Publishing has become just one of the many thriving divisions of his company.

With a track record of working with and publishing works by luminaries such as Neil Gaiman, Clive Barker, Stephen King, Charlaine Harris, Ramsey Campbell, John Connolly, Jack Ketchum, Jonathan Maberry, Christopher Golden, Graham Masterton, Damien Angelica Walters, Adam Nevill, Lisa Morton, Elizabeth Massie, Joe R. Lansdale, Edward Lee, Paul Tremblay, and Wes Craven, Joe is the quintessential mentor for aspiring horror authors. His deep industry insights and extensive network place him in a unique position to guide both new and seasoned writers in the genre.

Joe’s commitment to nurturing talent and fostering author careers is at the heart of Crystal Lake Entertainment’s ethos. His approach is not just about publishing books; it’s about building a community, sharing knowledge, and being a beacon of friendship and guidance in the often intimidating world of horror writing.

Since leaving his day job in 2016 to focus full-time on his passion, Joe has also excelled as a work-from-home dad, a role he embraced in 2018. His daughter, Cayleigh, named after his childhood influences Bruce Lee and Stan Lee, is a testament to his belief in the power of storytelling across all mediums. Joe’s love for great narratives extends beyond literature, encompassing comics, games, film, and television, with favorites ranging from Poe, Doyle, and Lovecraft to King, Connolly, and Gaiman.

Joe Mynhardt isn't just a figure in the horror industry—he's a driving force behind it, leading a successful online business that goes beyond the traditional boundaries of publishing. Discover more about Joe’s journey on Facebook or Patreon, where he continues to inspire and lead the next generation of horror storytellers.

Rena Mason is a three-time Bram Stoker Award® recipient for The Evolutionist and “The Devil’s Throat,” as well as a 2014 Stage 32 /The Blood List Search for New Blood Screenwriting Contest Quarter-Finalist. She has published fiction and nonfiction in various anthologies, magazines, and books on writing.

She is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, The International Screenwriters' Association, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, and the Public Safety Writers Association. Please visit her website for more information: www.RenaMason.Ink

Since its founding in August 2012, Crystal Lake Publishing has quickly become one of the world’s leading publishers of Dark Fiction and Horror books in print, eBook, and audio formats.

While we strive to present only the highest quality fiction and entertainment, we also endeavour to support authors along their writing journey. We offer our time and experience in non-fiction projects, as well as author mentoring and services, at competitive prices.

With several Bram Stoker Award wins and many other wins and nominations, Crystal Lake Publishing puts integrity, honor, and respect at the forefront of our publishing operations.

We strive for each book and outreach program we spearhead to not only entertain and touch or comment on issues that affect our readers, but also to strengthen and support the Dark Fiction field and its authors.

Not only do we find and publish authors we believe are destined for greatness, but we strive to work with men and woman who endeavour to be decent human beings who care more for others than themselves, while still being hard working, driven, and passionate artists and storytellers.

Crystal Lake Publishing is and will always be a beacon of what passion and dedication, combined with overwhelming teamwork and respect, can accomplish. We endeavour to know each and every one of our readers, while building personal relationships with our authors, reviewers, bloggers, podcasters, bookstores, and libraries.

We will be as trustworthy, forthright, and transparent as any business can be, while also keeping most of the headaches away from our authors, since it’s our job to solve the problems so they can stay in a creative mind. Which of course also means paying our authors.

We do not just publish books, we present to you worlds within your world, doors within your mind, from talented authors who sacrifice so much for a moment of your time.

There are some amazing small presses out there, and through collaboration and open forums we will continue to support other presses in the goal of helping authors and showing the world what quality small presses are capable of accomplishing. No one wins when a small press goes down, so we will always be there to support hardworking, legitimate presses and their authors. We don’t see Crystal Lake as the best press out there, but we will always strive to be the best, strive to be the most interactive and grateful, and even blessed press around. No matter what happens over time, we will also take our mission very seriously while appreciating where we are and enjoying the journey.

What do we offer our authors that they can’t do for themselves through self-publishing?

We are big supporters of self-publishing (especially hybrid publishing), if done with care, patience, and planning. However, not every author has the time or inclination to do market research, advertise, and set up book launch strategies. Although a lot of authors are successful in doing it all, strong small presses will always be there for the authors who just want to do what they do best: write.

What we offer is experience, industry knowledge, contacts and trust built up over years. And due to our strong brand and trusting fanbase, every Crystal Lake Publishing book comes with weight of respect. In time our fans begin to trust our judgment and will try a new author purely based on our support of said author.

To date we’ve published around 100 books, and with each launch we strive to fine-tune our approach, learn from our mistakes, and increase our reach. We continue to assure our authors that we’re here for them and that we’ll carry the weight of the launch and dealing with third parties while they focus on their strengths—be it writing, interviews, blogs, signings, etc.

We also offer several mentoring packages to authors that include knowledge and skills they can use in both traditional and self-publishing endeavours.

We look forward to launching many new careers.

This is what we believe in. What we stand for. This will be our legacy.

Welcome to Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.

GRAHAM MASTERTON was born in Edinburgh in 1946, and at the age of 17 he joined his local newspaper as a junior reporter. He was appointed deputy editor of Mayfair at the age of 21, and at 24 he became executive editor of Penthouse. After leaving Penthouse, he wrote The Manitou, a horror novel that became his first bestseller and was adapted into a film starring Tony Curtis.

Graham spent twenty-five years as one of the world’s bestselling horror authors before he turned his talent to crimewriting. Inspired by the five years in which he and his late wife lived in Cork, he created a series of novels featuring Katie Maguire, the first female superintendent in the Irish police force. The first book in the Katie Maguire series, White Bones, was published by Head of Zeus in 2012 and became a top-ten bestseller. Graham continues to write thrillers and horror novels alongside the Katie Maguire crime series, which has now sold over a million copies worldwide.

Joan De La Haye writes dark and twisted thrillers featuring dangerous women, cold-blooded assassins, and survivors who turn the tables—violently. If you like fiction that pushes boundaries and heroines who don’t play nice, you're in the right place.

Jasper Bark is infectious - and there’s no known cure. If you’re reading this then you’re already at risk of contamination. The symptoms will begin to manifest any moment now. There’s nothing you can do about it. There’s no itching or unfortunate rashes, but you’ll become obsessed with his books, from the award winning collections 'Dead Air' and 'Stuck on You and Other Prime Cuts', to cult novels like 'The Final Cut' and acclaimed graphic novels such as 'Bloodfellas' and 'Beyond Lovecraft'.

Soon you’ll want to tweet, post and blog about his work until thousands of others fall under its viral spell. We’re afraid there’s no way to avoid this, these words contain a power you are hopeless to resist. You’re already in their thrall and have been since you began reading this bio. Even now you find yourself itching to read the whole of his work. Don’t fight it, embrace the urge and wear your obsession with pride!

Ben Eads lives within the semi-tropical suburbs of Central Florida. A true horror writer by heart, he wrote his first story at the tender age of ten. The look on the teacher’s face when she read it was priceless. However, his classmates loved it!

Ben’s short fiction has appeared in magazines or anthologies by: Crystal Lake Publishing, Shroud Magazine, and Seventh Star Press. His first novella, Cracked Sky, was published in 2015 by the Bram Stoker Award® Winning press Omnium Gatherum. His latest book, Hollow Heart, is now available from Crystal Lake Publishing.

Horror writer. Publisher. I primarily write novels but have been adding short stories to my tales: on their own, in collections, and in anthologies.