Author Archive

Stitch In Time

Published slightly later than originally predicted, the e-book version of Stitched Smile Publications‘ ‘Tenebrous‘ Anthology is now available for download from Amazon in both the UK and US.

 

Here’s the full list of contents from the anthology:-

  • Ghosts of Memory by Jason Morton
  • Born Politician by Peter Molnar
  • Boda Negra by H. R. Arswyd
  • In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Alice! by Ruby Pond
  • Gluttony Be Thy Vice by Nicholas Paschall
  • One Flesh by Ezekiel Kincaid
  • Infested by Mike L. Lane
  • Kairos Chamber by Feind Gottes
  • The Beast With Two Backs by John Dover
  • Hot Premiere by David Clark
  • All Boys Together by Richard Farren Barber
  • Trench Monkeys by Carl Barker
  • Back Seat Man by Wolfgang Potterhouse
  • Mercy by W. J. Renehan
  • Awakening by Tara Bennett

UPDATE: The buy links for the paperback version of the anthology on both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com have now been added here and on the Publications tab.

Murky Visions

Ahead of the imminent release of Stitched Smile Publication‘s ‘Tenebrous’ anthology next month (which I’m in), just wanted to share the full wraparound cover with you all, which I think we can all agree is pretty damn awesome.

Tentative release date is scheduled for Tuesday 3rd September, so hopefully will be providing more link details next week.

 

From The Trenches

Pleased to announce that my First World War set story, ‘Trench Monkeys‘, will feature in a new anthology from Stitched Smile Publications due out in Spring 2019, entitled ‘Tenebrous Tales‘.

As this one’s quite a way off yet, details are a bit scant at the moment, but will update site further once I know more.

 

Stranger Than Fiction

The British Fantasy Society‘s review of Parlour Tricks popped up online earlier this week, and if you want to find out what the BFS’ Sandra Scholes had to say about my first collection, you can visit the original listing page here , or alternatively you can find the whole review uploaded to the relevant tab on this site. I’ve also included a few choice cuts below, for those wishing to avoid any hint of spoilers:-

 

“Though he is no stranger to writing fiction, this is Carl Barker’s first collection of short stories, 14 in all with the central theme of illusion. And by that he means the art of illusion used by famous conjurers when they perform their magic tricks in front of a rapt audience. In the Afterword, Barker mentions what led him to create these tales with a horror theme to them and explains each on in The Inner Circle where the stories are based on the performances given by the conjurer…”

“What is most noticeable is how well-written the stories are. He doesn’t need a slick introduction from an already well established author to tell others how good he is at the written word. When you read From Chatterton Hill you already tell he can write with a style that both engages and gives you the thought that you will want to continue reading the next story and so on.”

“I like that the stories all have themes and cater to everyone’s taste in horror stories, from the bizarre to the funny, the gory to the strange, Carl Barker will have plenty more to write and engage with.”

 

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Magical Mystery Tour

Poet and writer Brian James Lewis has recently completed a very favourable review of ‘Parlour Tricks’, which you can read for yourselves over at both the Hellnotes and Horror Review websites.

I’ve added the full article to the Reviews tab here at Holeinthepage, as well as a few choice excerpts below, for those who want to see what Brian had to say about my debut collection.

You can catch up with Brian on Twitter @skullsnflames76 or on his WordPress blog damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com.

 

 

 

Excerpts from review:-

Wow! Talk about an interesting short story collection! Carl Barker’s Parlour Tricks is what you are looking for if you enjoy twisted speculative fiction with shocking endings. Not only does this book boast a highly divergent content level, it also ties the stories together by relating them to specific magic tricks in a section called The Inner Circle at the end of the book. At first, I was a little skeptical of that, but it works! The cover art by Luke Spooner draws you into Barker’s clutches and after that it’s time for the magic to begin. Kids, don’t try these at home!

Now it’s time for me to answer the big question. Would I purchase a copy of Parlour Tricks for myself or a friend? Indeed I would! Every book I’ve read from Parallel Universe Publications is better than the previous one. I’m not just saying that to be nice, either. There is definitely a positive evolution taking place as they grow their catalog of available works. As a reviewer, that is something enjoyable to watch. I totally encourage you to purchase a copy of Carl Barker’s Parlour Tricks in your favorite format today! Please keep in mind that this book is intended for adults and contains material best suited for them. As always, thanks for reading and remember: If you find yourself chained to a breakfast bar with no clothes on, it’s probably the work of a nutty ex-girlfriend. Good Luck!

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Electronic Futures

The e-book version of the recent Issues Of Tomorrow anthology from Indie Authors Press is now available for download at both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

So if you haven’t yet had chance to check out this great collection of SF stories, why not head over to grab yourself a copy for the extremely reasonable present-day price of £2.99 / $4.16.

 

 

Fabulous prizes to be unearthed

There are some awesome prizes to win at our Mummy Knows Best ebook launch party

Main UK only prize:-
Our ‘Mummy’s Night In’ box open to UK mainland customers only includes;
* Our Mini Mummy Mascot – a cuddly orange mini mummy
* A golden chiffon bag of mixed Ferrero Rocher
* A paperback copy of The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May (@Gollancz) with bookmark
* A gold feather brooch (costume jewellery)
* A luxurious cedar and amber candle
* A tin of mulled wine flavour tea from Whittards

Other prizes

Amazon Voucher $10 or £10
Triple chilli powder pack
Mummy Knows Best paperback
Weird Ales ebook trilogy
EF Schraeder is giving away Hunger Tree – her poetry collection
I’m giving away a signed copy of Parlour Tricks

 

To win the above box buy Mummy Knows Best ebook before midnight 2nd Feb

The ebook link is here at a special launch price of 99p

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07991ND6S/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1516854038&sr=1-2&keywords=mummy+knows+best

The Future, today!

OUT TODAY is Indie Authors Press‘ future-themed anthology “Issues Of Tomorrow“, which includes my story ‘Broken Machines‘.

A second SF piece from me in the last few months, this one tells the tale of Soriah, an abused pleasure droid taken in by an ageing off-world tinkerer, who helps her to understand what it is to be truly alive.

Featuring a bumper collection of work from 19 different authors, all exploring the question of ‘What If?’, the book is available to purchase from both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

You can check out the contents list below:-

One Story Short  – Gustavo Bondoni
Wildtopia  – Michael W. Lucht
The Definition of Johnny  – Damien Krsteski
Broken Machines  – Carl Barker
Walking The Mile  – Wayne Faust
Blur  – Brandon McNulty
Blood Is Red  – Mileva Anastasiadou
Waiting for the Show  – John K. Webb
Hela’s Brain  – Juliana Rew
Living Space – Frank Roger
The Portrait  – Adjie Henderson
Moments In Time – Gerri Leen
Joshua Was The First  – Kevin Edwin Stadt
The Mail Order Bride – Nidhi Singh
The Singularity  – Leah Lederman
It Comes To You In A Plain Brown Wrapper  – Andrew Marinus
Birthday  – Dave de Burgh
A Communicator With Animate Objects  – Dennis Mombauer
My Trip to the Circus  – Jason Lairamore

Wrap Party

Following on from the print launch of Mummy Knows Best at the back end of last year, the e-book is going live at the end of this month, with a Facebook Launch Party happening on Friday 2nd February (19:00-21:00) to coincide with the release.

Several of the authors involved (including myself) will be attending the party to chat, answer questions and give away some funky prizes as well, so if you’re at a loose end on the first Friday night in February, why not pop along and see what’s hidden away beneath all those bandages.

You can find the Party page below or by running a Facebook search for ‘Mummy Knows Best’:-

https://www.facebook.com/events/140662313280747/

 

 

 

 

 

UPDATE (2018-01-25):

The link to the ebook buy page is now live over at Amazon, available at the bargain price of £0.99 / $1.38 at the moment. Anyone purchasing the ebook between now and the FB Launch on Friday 2nd Feb will automatically be entered into the draw for a chance to win one of the fabulous prizes being given out at the party.

Blood from the Mummy’s Tome?

I’m pleased to announce that, after a brief revision, Terror Tree’s ‘Mummy Knows Best‘ anthology is no longer under wraps, having arisen once more on both Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com to terrorize the living.

Featuring brand new work from fifteen authors on a central theme, the book houses stories of mummies from around the globe, including Egypt, Latvia, Britain, Japan and Peru (as well as a couple of tales from outside of the box as well).

If you like new twists on a classic monster, then why not dig up a copy (just beware of the curse!).