Category Archives: press release

Crymsyn Hart Welcomed to SSP Author Family!

Seventh Star Press is proud to welcome Crymsyn Hart to its author family with a fascinating dark fantasy/horror series of four books called Deathly Encounters!

The first book of the series, Death’s Dance, follows the story of psychic Kerstin Palmer, who has endured recurring dreams since childhood of a hooded spector. One day, the specter appears in her bedroom mirror; and then emerges from the glass.

Jackson, her ex and ghost hunting show host extraordinaire, shows up to help her with the new dilemma. Soon, Kerstin finds herself in a whirlwind, with her house burned down, being stalked by ancient evil, and drawn back into the world of being a ghost hunting psychic.

Jackson drags her into a ghost town wiped off the map called Death’s Dance along with a few other psychics and things only go from bad to worse. Jackson had no idea what haunted the place and only the black robed phantasm haunting Kerstin has the answers; and he’s not saying a word.

Other titles in the Deathly Encounters series are: Death’s Revival, Death’s Demise, and Death’s Descent. The first book will be released in Summer of 2014, with subsequent titles on six month intervals. The books will be released in trade paperback and all eBook formats.

On coming aboard Seventh Star Press, Crymsyn said, “Ever since I met the authors from SSP, I have always enjoyed the sense of family I got from them. That was the biggest draw I had for wanting to be a part of this great press. That, and their books just kick ass.”

Crymsyn is a National Bestselling author of over seventy paranormal romance and horror novels. Her experiences as a psychic have given her a lot of material to use in her books. She currently resides in Charlotte, NC with her husband and her three dogs.

To find out more about Crymsyn, check out her website on: http://www.ravynhart.com

Seventh Star Press is a publisher of speculative fiction based in Lexington Kentucky. For further information on the press or the forthcoming Crymsyn Hart titles, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com

Jason Sizemore’s Short Story Collection Irredeemable Announced!

For Immediate Release
February 12, 2014

Seventh Star Press proudly announces the short story collection Irredeemable from Jason Sizemore.

Featuring twenty one tales of dark SF and horror, many of which have flavors of Appalachia, Irredeemable brings together a number of Jason’s previously published stories and features two brand new ones. The book will be released in all eBook formats and trade paperback during the second week of April. The collection will also feature a cover from Polish artist Tomasz Trafial.

“The stories in the collection address remorseless evil and how we react and adapt to such entities,” Jason commented. “My Appalachia upbringing had a big impact on me, and I think that is reflected throughout the book.”

The April release will be followed by a special campaign to introduce readers to Irredeemable. “We are very excited to be entrusted with this special release,” Seventh Star Press’ Stephen Zimmer said. “Many people are well aware of Jason’s exceptional talents as an editor and in the publishing realms. It will be truly wonderful to see readers discover what a gifted writer he is, as Irredeemable solidly testifies.”

Jason is a writer and editor living in Lexington, Kentucky. He is also the owner of Apex Publications, a highly acclaimed SF, fantasy, and horror small press. He has twice been nominated for the Hugo Award for his editing work on Apex Magazine.

As to why he brought “Irredeemable” to Seventh Star Press, he remarked. “I wanted to work with Seventh Star Press because I’ve long admired Stephen Zimmer. He’s a savvy marketer, a wonderful person, and has a great enthusiasm for his authors and the small press.”

For more information on Jason, follow him on Twitter @apexjason, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jason.sizemore1. For further updates and news about Irredeemable, visit the Seventh Star Press site at www.seventhstarpress.com.

A Chimerical World, 2 Volume Anthology, Cover Art Reveal and Announcement!

Seventh Star Press is proud to unveil the new cover art by Enggar Adirasa for the anthologies A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court, and A Chimerical World: Tales of the Unseelie Court, edited by Scott M. Sandridge.

The anthologies compliment each other, with A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court containing 19 tales focusing on what humans typically refer to as the “good” faeries, while A Chimerical World: Tales of the Unseelie Court contains 19 tales centered around those humans would deem the “evil” faeries. Yet as editor Scott Sandridge points out, Good and Evil are human constructs, things unfamiliar to the Fey themselves.

Both titles will be available in eBook format at the end of the first week of February, with the print version to follow one week afterward.

Here is a list of the authors and stories to be featured in A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court:

“Extra-Ordinary” by BC Brown
“Dead Fairy Doormat” by George S. Walker
“Taggers” by Christine Morgan
“Wormwood” by Alexandra Christian
“The Harpist’s Hand” by Steven S. Long
“Sanae’s Garden” by Chantal Boudreau
“Mark of Ruins” by SD Grimm
“Birdie’s Life at the School for Distressed Young Ladies” by JH Fleming
“Cultivated Hope” by Jordan Phelps
“Seelie Goose” by Eric Garrison
“I Knocked Up My Fairy Girlfriend” by Brandon Black
“The Body Electric” by Sarah Madsen
“The Last Mission” by Cindy Koepp
“The Beggar-Knight & the Lady Perilous” by Matthew A. Timmins
“The Filigreed Lamp” by Edward Ahern
“Keys” by Michael M. Jones
“Like a Sister in the Proper Court” by Lisa Hawkridge
“Gnome Games” by Saera Corvin
“The Goat Man’s Garden” by Marten Hoyle

Synopsis of A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court: The Fey have been with us since the beginning, sometimes to our great joy but often to our detriment. Usually divided (at least by us silly humans) into two courts, the first volume of A Chimerical World focuses on the Seelie Court: the court we humans seem to view as the “good” faeries. But “good” and “evil” are human concepts and as alien to the Fey as their mindsets are to us.

Inside you will find 19 stories that delve into the world of the faeries of the Seelie Court, from authors both established and new, including George S. Walker, Eric Garrison, and Alexandra Christian.

But be warned: these faeries are nothing like Tinker Bell.

Here is a list of the authors and stories to be featured in A Chimerical World: Tales of the Unseelie Court:

“In Plain Sight” by Rebecca Leo
“The Wunderhorn” by David Turnbull
“Treehouse” by Kim Smith
“I’ll Watch Over You” by Angeline Trevena
“The Enemy of my Enemy” by Deedee Davies
“Maestro” by Nicholas Paschall
“Prey of the Boggart” by Rony Blechman
“Fear of Little Men” by Mike Pieloor
“Faerie Stories and the Bean Nighe” by Carmen Tudor
“Gifts” by Michael Shimek
“Djinn and Tonic” by S. Clayton Rhodes
“The Bet” by Jodi Ralston
“The Fool and his Money” by Nick Bryan
“The Yielding” by J. A. Ironside
“The Tamer of Beasts” by Doug Blakeslee
“The Last Sword of Barrow Thorns” by Matthew A. Timmins
“The Rose and the Dragon” by Steven S. Long
“The Brothers Doran” by John A. McColley
“Wonderland” by Stephanie Jessop

Synopsis of A Chimerical World: Tales of the Unseelie Court: The Fey have been with us since the beginning, sometimes to our great joy but often to our detriment. Usually divided (at least by us silly humans) into two courts, the second volume of A Chimerical World focuses on the Unseelie Court: the court we humans seem to view as the “evil” faeries. But “good” and “evil” are human concepts and as alien to the Fey as their mindsets are to us.

Inside you will find 19 stories that delve into the world of the faeries of the Unseelie Court, from authors both established and new, including Michael Shimek, Deedee Davies, and Nick Bryan.

But don’t be surprised if these faeries decide to play with their food.

About Scott M. Sandridge: Scott M. Sandridge is a writer, editor, blogger, freedom fighter, and all-round trouble-maker. His works with Seventh Star Press as an editor include the anthologies Hero’s Best Friend, A Chimerical World: Tales of the Seelie Court, and A Chimerical World: Tales of the Unseelie Court.

You can find him at http://smsand.wordpress.com

Steven Shrewsbury’s Philistine! eBook Available! Cover and Illustrations Unveiled!

Seventh Star Press is proud to unveil the new cover art and illustrations by the award-winning Matthew Perry for Steven Shrewsbury’s epic-scale sword and sorcery novel Philistine!  The eBook version of Philistine is available as of today with the print version to follow the first week of February.

Readers who enjoy Steven’s acclaimed Gorias La Gaul tales, featured in novels such as Thrall and Overkill, and the short story collection Blood and Steel: Legends of La Gaul, will love Philistine!  Set in the same world as the Gorias La Gaul stories, Philistine tells the story of the giant warrior Goliath, with all the trademark elements that have sparked many to comment on a Robert E. Howard-like spirit to be found within Shrewsbury’s work.

Philistine is also the first book of a new collection, called A Tale of Goliath, which will feature more adventures with the time, setting, and characters to be found in the novel.

Pick up Philistine today for just $3.99 on Kindle or Nook (Kobo, iBookstore, and other versions will be live shortly)

Interior illustration by Matthew Perry from Philistine
Interior illustration by Matthew Perry from Philistine

Synopsis: The Philistines, a mysterious warrior people known now for mainly one man: Goliath. The giant.

Goliath. A name grander than even the man himself. You’ve heard of his infamous end at the hands of a shepherd as written in a famous book, but what of the life of the man himself? What book tells his tale?

A warrior among warriors, a son of a god, a living legend. Goliath, the warrior champion of the Philistines. On the battlefield, he runs like a horse, wields killing instruments no normal man may heft, and revels in the fear his presence evokes. Off the field, his will is immutable, his trust invaluable, and his appetites unbearable. Goliath. This man knows no challenge.

But such a reputation will not discourage all men. Scheming rulers and generals, prophetic priests and powerful cults, dauntless warriors looking to make their own legend. Monsters. Gods. For one seemingly unkillable, at the very least, these things can ruin an otherwise pleasant day.

Along with his shield bearer, Abimelech, and soldiers more in awe than they are useful, Goliath will set out on missions for kings, face foul magic users, and walk in the shadows of mysterious halls. History tells us Goliath died at the hands of an Israelite.

Goliath may have something to say about that.

Philistine is the first Tale of Goliath, set in the same world as Steven Shrewsbury’s novels such as Overkill and Thrall, and his Blood and Steel: Legends of La Gaul short stories.

About Steven: Steven L. Shrewsbury, from Central Illinois, enjoys football, history, politics and good fiction. Over 300 of his short stories have been published in print or digital media. His small press novels include OVERKILL, HELL BILLY, THRALL, BAD MAGICK, BEDLAM UNLEASHED, STRONGER THAN DEATH, HAWG, TORMENTOR, GODFORSAKEN, the forthcoming PHILISTINE and BLACK SON RISING. These titles run from horror to historical high fantasy. He tries to drown out the rumors that he is Robert E. Howard reincarnated with beer. When not wrangling his sons, he can be found outside in his happy place.

Imaginarium 2014 Announced!

Welcome to Imaginarium 2014, a creative writing convention where ideas transcend reality!

Coming to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky from September 19-21 of 2014, The Imaginarium is a unique kind of convention offering a wealth of programming, events, and all kinds of fun for those who enjoy the world of creative writing!

Imaginarium 2014 is an event open to all genres, exploring all kinds of creative writing, from books, to comics/graphic novels, screenplays, blogging, and much more! Featuring 11 tracks loaded with panels and workshops, a film festival, gaming, an art show, costume contest, awards banquet, and much more, Imaginarium is the region’s premiere creative writing event.

Imaginarium 2014 will feature a powerful array of panelists and guests, including authors, editors, publishers, screenwriters, game designers, and much more. Guests will be added regularly to the site throughout the coming months.

The event offers great discounts for early registration and exhibiting in the vendor hall, so be sure to come aboard early!

Whether you are a an author, screenwriter, a reader, a movie enthusiast, or just enjoy the convention experience, Imaginarium is sure to be one of your “can’t-miss” events of the year!

To find out more about Imaginarium 2014, including registration and vendor tables at discount rates, visit www.entertheimaginarium.com

 

 

Peter Welmerink Welcomed to SSP Author Family!

For Immediate Release
September 12, 2013

Seventh Star Press Proudly Welcomes Peter Welmerink to Our Author Family!

PeterWelmerink

Seventh Star Press is proud to welcome Peter Welmerink to its author family with the addition of the Transport Series, a military thriller of the post-apocalyptic kind, with zombies! The horror-laced series debuts with the release of the first novella, Transport, in early 2014.

Transport begins in the year 2025. When Commissioner Wilhelm DeGage’s helicopter goes down in hostile territory, it is up to Captain Jacob “Jake” Billet and his crew to bring the official home. With only an armored personnel carrier, Jake and his crew brave the infected lands, pushed to the limits of their honor in order to protect DeGage despite the horror of his past transgressions.

 And then there are the zombies.

Getting from Point A to Point B has never been so dangerous.

Regarding coming aboard Seventh Star Press, Peter said, “Outside of the kick-ass books/titles SSP puts out, from the people I have spoken to who have worked or are working with SSP, SSP seems a very author-centric publisher, meaning they seem to really work and care for their crew of literary artisans. I want to work just as hard for a publisher if they appear to want to work just as hard for me, the author. Like I said, the people I have spoken to who have or do work with SSP say this is so. I want to be under that roof, in that family.”

Peter Welmerink has been published in various online and wood pulp publications, mainly in the realms of Dark Fantasy and Sword & Sorcery. Peter’s biggest novel endeavor to date was a collaborative effort with Steven L. Shrewsbury, entitled Bedlam Unleashed. His most recent published short story was published in Fading Light: An Anthology of the Monstrous.  His is married with a small barbarian horde consisting of three rambunctious boys.

Peter can be found at his website peterwelmerink.com 

or his blog grandrapidsaltered.blogspot.com/

 

 

Seventh Star Press is a publisher of speculative fiction based in Lexington Kentucky.  For further information on the press or the forthcoming Peter Welmerink titles, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com

S. H. Roddey Welcomed to SSP Author Family!

For Immediate Release
September 11, 2013

Seventh Star Press Proudly Welcomes S. H. Roddey to Our Author Family!

SHRPhotoLarger

Seventh Star Press is proud to welcome S. H. Roddey to its author family with the addition of a wonderful new genre-crossing series, The Soul Collectors, which debuts with the release of Damnation Day in early 2014.

The dark fantasy/horror series introduces the character Lydia St. Clair, a bounty hunter who is a collector of souls due to the deal she made with the Devil to save her father’s life.  In the first book of the series, Damnation Day, she awakens from a troubling dream, only to find a charred piece of parchment with the word “Armageddon” on it.

The document contains her upcoming assignment, which will send her on an adventure filled with twists, turns,  and an assortment of deities, strange creatures, powerful artifacts, supernatural realms, and more!  An apocalypse looms, and it is up to Lydia to unravel mysteries and put a stop to the most diabolical of plans.

All of it is just part of the job for a collector of souls!

On bringing The Soul Collectors Series to Seventh Star Press and joining its author family, S.H. Roddey commented, “I like the family atmosphere. It’s nice to see that there’s still a publisher in this world that isn’t just about the money – that that an old-fashioned place still exists where the doors are always open and the people are always willing to help each other. It’s cozy, but still professional.”

South Carolina native S.H. Roddey brings a unique blend of humor, emotion, and wild ideas filled with dark themes and strong characters.  Her previously published works include the novel Lost in the Shadows (co-written with Selah Janel) and a number of short stories featured in anthologies such as The Big Bad and Thunder on the Battlefield. In addition to writing, she is also a voracious reader, wannabe chef, and video game addict with two full-time jobs: administrative social media professional, and mom to two cats, a teenager, and a precocious toddler with an affinity for computer keyboards.

She can be found online at http://creepyauthorgirl.wordpress.com

 

 

Seventh Star Press is a publisher of speculative fiction based in Lexington Kentucky.  For further information on the press or the forthcoming S.H. Roddey titles, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com

 

 

A. Christopher Drown Welcomed to SSP Author Family!

For Immediate Release
September 9, 2013

Seventh Star Press proudly welcomes A. Christopher Drown to our author family!

Aaron

Seventh Star Press is proud to welcome A. Christopher Drown to its author family, with the addition of his Heart of the Sisters Series.  The fantasy series gets underway with the reissue of the first novel, the award-winning A Mage of None Magic, to be released in the beginning of 2014.

Readers of fantasy everywhere can expect well-crafted, original storytelling in the Heart of the Sisters Series.   The story unleashes a clash of science and magic like no other in a world where powerful magicians strive to keep knowledge suppressed in order to maintain their authority and the status quo.

A Mage of None Magic follows the story of a nineteen year old apprentice, Niel, a thousand years after a major cataclysm unleashed by the legendary magician Uhniethi razed the College of Magic that the young man now seeks to attend.  Unforeseen events diverting him from his journey to the College, Niel soon finds himself at the center of a quest involving the Heart of the Sisters, an ancient gem reputed to hold the power to destroy all magic in the world.

Niel’s quest will take him deeper into the legend, where he will discover the truth of magic, the College itself, and other revelations that have the potential to transform the world.

Commenting on joining Seventh Star Press, A. Christopher Drown stated, ” If I had to distill the multitude of reasons for my excitement over joining Seventh Star Press, the word at which I’d arrive would be “enthusiasm.” As an onlooker, the happy and pervasive zeal with which the folks at SSP approached all their endeavors was enticing and contagious. Now, as a member of their amazing assemblage of writers, I’m eager not just to have that collective energy working on my behalf, but to lend my support to others who share my love of storytelling, and to play a role in SSP growing and achieving everything I’m convinced it can.”

A. Christopher Drown is a native of Brunswick, Maine, and currently resides in Memphis. His work has appeared in Tales of the Unanticipated, Shots!, and Alien Skin magazines, and in such anthologies as Beacons of Tomorrow, Sky-Tinted Waters and A Tall Ship, A Star, and Plunder. His first book, A Mage of None Magic, won the 2010 Darrell Award for Best Novel. His story, Path of an Arrow, received the 2012 Darrell Award for Best Novella. He recently completed his second novel, A Sister to Butterflies, and is at work on the follow-up to A Mage of None Magic.

 

 

Seventh Star Press is a publisher of speculative fiction based in Lexington Kentucky.  For further information on the press or the forthcoming A. Christopher Drown titles, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com

 

Cover Reveal for Stephen Zimmer’s Hellscapes, Volume 1

Seventh Star Press is proud to unveil the cover art by Matthew Perry for Hellscapes, Volume 1, the first of a brand new horror collection from author Stephen Zimmer.

Hellscapes_600X400

 

The novella-sized release features five stand-alone short stories that have a connection in that all of the tales are set in different aspects of Hell.  Readers can look forward to some recurring characters as the collection unfolds, as well as a wide variety of environments and styles of stories.

“I’m really excited about this collection,” Stephen commented.  “I love the horror genre, as it gives writers some great options for storytelling that are not as readily accessible in other genres.  Some of my fantasy, urban fantasy, and steampunk readers might be surprised about this release, but there are plenty of moments in my other books that show this side of me. I’ve always been a big fan of the genre, and Clive Barker is one of my all-time favorite authors. Having been long enthralled with more medieval-type depictions of Hell such as Dante’s Inferno, and other representations such as can be found in Milton’s Paradise lost, I’ve wanted to explore a theme like this for quite awhile.  This project has been wonderful to undertake and readers can expect much more in the future.”

The eBook will be available on Friday, September 6, and print availability will arrive in the following week.

Here is the official synopsis:

Journey into realms of darkness and explore the regions where angels fear to tread! Welcome to the Hellscapes, featuring tales of the infernal in settings where the horror never ends and the inhabitants experience the ultimate nightmare.

In “Blood Dreams” follow the tale of a woman who knew great political authority and influence in life, as she discovers the reward awaiting her in the next world.

“The Grove” welcomes a new arrival, a wealthy man who is looking forward to a weekend of indulging in lust and libation, as he has for many years in this secluded convocation for the elite.  Something is different this time, though, and he soon finds that his visit will be taking a very different turn.

In “The Smallest Fish”, the story is told of a ruthless business mogul who finds himself in an abandoned, ruined version of the city he knew well … in life.  This city won’t be remaining vacant for long.

“Drowning in Tears” tells the story of a young man’s unhealthy obsession for a suicidal girlfriend that leads him on a path of severe transformation.

The final tale of Volume 1, “Lords of War”, follows the story of a man who wielded military power on a worldwide scale as a Secretary of Defense, who now learns the deeper nature of war and what kinds of monstrosities it breeds.

 

More volumes of Hellscapes are forthcoming.  For further information on Seventh Star Press, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com and for information on the author visitwww.stephenzimmer.com

Seventh Star Press is a publisher of speculative fiction based in Lexington, Kentucky.

Cover Reveal for Stephen Zimmer’s Chronicles of Ave Volume 1!

Seventh Star Press is proud to reveal the cover art by Matthew Perry for Stephen Zimmer’s Chronicles of Ave, Volume 1, a brand new collection of fantasy short stories set in the world of Ave that is the primary setting for his Fires in Eden Series.

CoA_cover1200X800
The new release features six tales, including the novella-length “Winter’s Embrace”.  It will be issued in eBook formats on Wednesday, September 4, with the print version to be released the following week.

 

The tales are stand-alone short stories that do not require familiarity with the Fires in Eden novels.  However, those who have read the novels will find their experience of the world of Ave broadened and deepened.

 

“These stories give me a chance to explore many things I am only able to briefly mention or reference in the Fires in Eden Series,” Stephen explained.  “They also give me a chance to allow readers an introduction to areas of Ave that have not been portrayed in the novel series as of yet.”

 

The stories exhibit a range of settings, styles, and characters displaying the diverse kinds of cultures and lands to be found in Ave.  Volume 1 features the following tales:

 

“Into Glory Ride” tells the story of a young Trogen Warrior who is called to go up against insurmountable odds when Elves raid his homeland.  The Trogens have only begun training winged steeds for combat, but time is of the essence and a choice has to be made by the young warrior.

 

In “A Touch of Serenity” a conscript laborer working on a massive wall constructed under the orders of the Divine Emperor begins to hear ghostly voices asking for help.  His response leads him on a journey that will test his courage, wisdom, and compassion.

 

In “Moonlight’s Grace” a young man goes to help his people when a Midragardan raid strikes Gael.  He seeks to prove his worth to the chieftain whose daughter he loves with all his heart.

 

The novella-length “Winter’s Embrace” follows a warrior-monk deep into dangerous woodlands in the heart of winter.  There he will find his faith tested in ways he never anticipated, when he must help a forest witch against an enigmatic, immortal being known as the Undying.

 

“Lion Heart” introduces the heroic Sigananda of the Amazu people, who must confront things that transcend the laws of the physical world when powerful Wizards threaten his homeland.

 

In “Land of Shadow”, a knight who is part of a band of Avanoran mercenaries discovers how perilous the mysterious Shadowlands are when they undertake a journey to locate a site to build a fortress.

 

More volumes are forthcoming.  For further information on Seventh Star Press, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com and for information on the author visit www.stephenzimmer.com

   

Seventh Star Press is a publisher of speculative fiction based in Lexington, Kentucky.