GARY FRY

So in April of this year I have a new book out: how splendid. For me, anyway. And for you, too, I hope. The book is a double novella from Spectral Press, the same fine folk who published my chapbook Abolisher of Roses . The central text is a new piece called 'The Respectable Face of Tyranny', a story I wrote after exploring the north east coast with my partner and dogs. I chanced upon a spooky little place called Saltwick Bay, whose rock goes back millennia and is as spooky as the earth gets. It also harbours - oh, can a writer ask for more latent symbolism? - a rotting boat left over from the First World War. Lots of ideas flowed from these basic elements, and - piff, paff, puff - the novella came into being . . . The book also includes a revised version of my 2006 novella 'World Wide Web', which I was never happy with in its published form and have worked some tricks with since. The signed limited numbered edition is almost sold out, so head on over to the Spectral we...

Well, folks, it's almost Xmas, and to celebrate the release of my new Xmas-related novel, Fearful Festivities , here's a very short and very nasty story which inspired a section of the novel. If you like this dark tale, you'll certainly love the longer work. So, with apologies in advance, here's a guy who enjoys a rather harried festive holiday . . . Just For You Gary Fry The box was delivered to his flat on Christmas Eve. Mrs Jenkins – the old lady who lived on the ground floor; one of the few people in his life he’d yet to offend – had obviously signed the courier’s paperwork and left the box in the lobby for him to find after returning from the DHSS. It was square, waist-high and the length of an adult’s arm. God knows how he managed to get it upstairs to his flat. Since the divorce and losing his job, he hadn’t exactly been following a healthy diet, and already the effects were telling. His hangover seemed to be rendering the box double its weight; surely it was ac...

Folk interested in my paean to classic small town horror novels, FEARFUL FESTIVITIES, will have an additional treat in store for them: this stunning cover by the inimitable Steve Upham. I'm delighted.

Just to announce the thrilling news that my new novel will be released this Xmas by Screaming Dreams. The books is called FEARFUL FESTIVITIES and is a dark seasonal tale in the tradition of those classic '80s small town horror novels like 'Salem's Lot . A cast of diverse characters beset by a malevolent force creeping in at a time of great vulnerability. It's creepy, shocking and even darkly comic at times. This is a book whose central premise came to me as a teenager, but which I'd never had the ability to do justice to until more recently. For a book percolating for over 20 years, the first draft came quickly - in about six weeks. But it's been through another 10 drafts since and is now as good as it will ever be, I think. I'm really pumped up about this one. Always wanted to write such a book since falling in love with King's Castle Rock people as a kid. I've just made a YouTube-style promo trailer for it and the publisher will be running an Xmas ...

Goodness, more extended radio silence. No post since May. Gulp. In my defence, I've been ridiculously busy at work, so haven't had much time for indulgences like this. But now, with a few minutes to spare, I have an opportunity to update on my activities lately. I know all three of you are baying for this info.  I say I was busy, and that's true, but as the saying goes, if you want something doing, ask a busy man. To wit, in July this year I wrote a 92,000 word novel in 27 days. It was madness. I started with a detailed plot breakdown (which helped immensely) and just kept on writing. One Saturday I did 10K, another I did 12K. I ride the peaks and endure the troughs. I've written nowt else since. The book itself is rather an original tale, involving computer games. I won't give the premise away here, because the novel is under consideration at the moment, but I'm really happy with it. It's a real departure from my usual urban horror routine. I hope to say mo...

Well, I'm delighted to report that my new book, the limited edition chapbook ABOLISHER OF ROSES published by the superb new imprint Spectral Press, has SOLD OUT pre-publication. This is most encouraging. Thanks to all who bought it. The book is part of a new kind of fiction for me, a fusion of story, theme and character that, I hope, lacks some of the clunkiness of my earlier attempts at getting this way of writing right. That's development, isn't it? I can only apologise to all those who witnessed by first goes at this approach. ;) What else has happened? Had a short novella accepted for a project due out next year - a piece called 'The House of the Rising Son'. Very pleased with this tale and the editor loved it, too. So more news on that when I have it. I'm still working on my second haunted house novel, DIVIDED SPIRITS. It's about halfway down, and after an extensive rewrite recently, I'm about ready to plough into the second half. I have a week off ...

Well, nowt much has happened since my last post. I've been really busy at work and haven't managed to write much. However, everything being grist to the old mill, I suppose it's worthwhile to point out that I've done quite a bit of travelling, including a trip to a place I've always wanted to visit: magnificent Vienna. I really love the 'flavour' of great cities. You get this in London and Edinburgh, but on the whole I find British cities rather generic. With their identical high street stores crowding out places of genuine and unique interest, there's only a handful that survive the merciless prevalence of Big Business. Elsewhere, however, the situation's different . . . or perhaps *feels* different. In Seville or Stockholm or indeed Vienna, there's a sense of the soul of the places being allowed to breathe. Maybe that's because I'm not quite so attuned to the high street logos of foreign companies (except for the universal, the ubiquito...