Cover Reveal of Vampires Don’t Sparkle! and Special Pre-Order Offer

For Immediate Release
March 6, 2013

Cover Reveal of Vampires Don’t Sparkle! and Special Pre-Order Offer

Seventh Star Press is proud to unveil the cover art created by award-winning artist Matthew Perry for Vampires Don’t Sparkle!, the new anthology from editor Michael West. Featuring authors such as Gary A. Braunbeck, Tim Waggoner, Lucy A. Snyder, and Maurice Broaddus, the anthology contains some of the best writers in the speculative fiction arena today.

A special, short pre-order window is also being offered until March 16th for those wishing to have copies signed and personalized by editor Michael West.

Vampires Don’t Sparkle! poses the question: What would you do if you had unlimited power and eternal life?

Would you…go back to high school? Attend the same classes year after year, going through the pomp and circumstance of one graduation after another, until you found the perfect date to take to prom? Would you…spend your days moping and brooding, finding your only joy in a game of baseball on a stormy day? Or would you…do something else?

The authors of this collection have a few ideas; some fanciful, some humorous, and some as dark as an endless night. Join us, and discover what it truly means to be “vampyre.”

Authors and stories featured in Vampires Don’t Sparkle! include:

“A New Life” by J. F. Gonzalez
“What Once was Flesh” by Tim Waggoner
“The Darkton Circus Mystery” by Elizabeth Massie
“Robot Vampire” by R. J. Sullivan
“Beneath a Templar Cross” by Gord Rollo
“The Weapon of Memory” by Kyle S. Johnson
“The Excavation” by Stephen Zimmer
“Skraeling” by Joel A. Sutherland
“Dreams of Winter” by Bob Freeman
“Dracula’s Winkee: Bloodsucker Blues” by Gregory L. Hall
“I F*** Your Sunshine” by Lucy A. Snyder
“A Soldier’s Story” by Maurice Broaddus
“Rattenkönig” by Douglas F. Warrick
“Vampire Nation” by Jerry Gordon
“Curtain Call” by Gary A. Braunbeck

Readers may pre-order a first edition softcover signed (and personalized if desired) by editor Michael West at the Seventh Star Press website (https://seventhstarpress.com/pre-orders/ ) . Pre-orders must be received by March 16th, 2013, with shipping to occur the following week.

Additionally, and very importantly, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the anthology will be going to cancer research institutions. Michael West, the author of highly-acclaimed novels such as Poseidon’s Children, Cinema of Shadows, The Wide Game andSpook House, comments.  “It is a very personal cause for me.  One year ago, I lost one of my closest friends, author Sara J. Larson, to cancer, and then my wife was diagnosed with the disease last fall.  I hope that, with this anthology, we can help win the fight against this real-life horror.”

To get further information on Michael West, or the Vampires Don’t Sparkle! anthology, please visit Michael’s site at www.bymichaelwest.com or the Seventh Star Press site at www.seventhstarpress.com

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

SSP Proudly Unveils Cover Art for Perfect Flaw Anthology

For Immediate Release
March 5, 2013

Seventh Star Press Unveils Cover Art For Perfect Flaw Anthology

Seventh Star Press is proud to unveil the brand new cover art by Enggar Adirasa for Perfect Flaw, a dystopian-themed anthology from editor Robin Blankenship.

Perfect Flaw features a variety of speculative fiction stories, spanning many genres, that involve the exploration of society gone wrong. From “utopian” societies masking an underlying controlled state, to stories of people fighting back against repression in hopes of a better world, the flaws that create a dystopian atmosphere are identified and challenged.

The authors and stories featured in Perfect Flaw include:

Leslie J Anderson – “Michael’s Gate”
Jason Campagna – “Hope Unknown”
Frank Roger – “Cracks in the Concrete”
Mandi M. Lynch “Under a Pomegranate Sky”
Shaun Avery – “The Job Hunter”
Cathy Bryant – “Cost Benefit Analysis”
Carolyn M. Chang – “Smilers”
SC Langgle – “The Bird Below Ground”
Delphine Boswell – “Tomorrow’s Children”
Tanith Korravai – “Your Comfort is Important to Us”
DeeDee Davies – “The Ultimate Sale”
Ellen Brock – “Useless”
Herika R. Raymer – “Seventh Degree”
H David Blalock – “Guardian”
H.S. Donnelly – “First Head”
Jay Faulkner – “System Error”
Michael O’Connor – “The Choosing”

Perfect Flaw will be released towards the end of March in Trade Paperback and eBook formats. For further information and updates on Perfect Flaw, please visit the Seventh Star Press site at www.seventhstarpress.com

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

SSP Proudly Announces Upcoming Release of Vampires Don’t Sparkle! Anthology

For Immediate Release
March 2, 2013

Seventh Star Press Announces Upcoming Release of
Vampires Don’t Sparkle! Anthology

Seventh Star Press is proud to announce the upcoming release of Vampires Don’t Sparkle!, an exciting new anthology from editor Michael West that features the talents of many of the best writers in the speculative fiction arena, including Gary Braunbeck, Tim Waggoner, Maurice Broaddus, Lucy A. Snyder, and several more exceptional authors.  Featuring cover artwork from the award-winning artist Matthew Perry, the anthology will be available in trade paperback and eBook formats by the end of March.

Vampires Don’t Sparkle! poses the question: What would you do if you had unlimited power and eternal life?

Would you…go back to high school? Attend the same classes year after year, going through the pomp and circumstance of one graduation after another, until you found the perfect date to take to prom? Would you…spend your days moping and brooding, finding your only joy in a game of baseball on a stormy day? Or would you…do something else?

The authors of this collection have a few ideas; some fanciful, some humorous, and some as dark as an endless night. Join us, and discover what it truly means to be “vampyre.”

Below is a full list of authors and stories included in Vampires Don’t Sparkle!

“A New Life” by J. F. Gonzalez
“What Once was Flesh” by Tim Waggoner
“The Darkton Circus Mystery” by Elizabeth Massie
“Robot Vampire” by R. J. Sullivan
“Beneath a Templar Cross” by Gord Rollo
“The Weapon of Memory” by Kyle S. Johnson
“The Excavation” by Stephen Zimmer
“Skraeling” by Joel A. Sutherland
“Dreams of Winter” by Bob Freeman
“Dracula’s Winkee: Bloodsucker Blues” by Gregory L. Hall
“I F*** Your Sunshine” by Lucy A. Snyder
“A Soldier’s Story” by Maurice Broaddus
“Rattenkönig” by Douglas F. Warrick
“Vampire Nation” by Jerry Gordon
“Curtain Call” by Gary A. Braunbeck

A portion of the proceeds from the sales of the anthology will be going to cancer research institutions, which was a prime motivation for editor Michael West in putting the project together. The author of highly-acclaimed novels such as Poseidon’s Children, Cinema of Shadows, The Wide Game and Spook House, Michael decided to take on the editor’s role for Vampires Don’t Sparkle! for some personal reasons.

As Michael recently stated, “It is a very personal cause for me.  One year ago, I lost one of my closest friends, author Sara J. Larson, to cancer, and then my wife was diagnosed with the disease last fall.  I hope that, with this anthology, we can help win the fight against this real-life horror.

And what an anthology it is!  My fellow horror and dark fantasy authors will take you down some very twisted paths, each putting his or her own unique spin on the age-old legend of the vampire. Some of these tales are fanciful, some humorous, and some as black as an endless night. These are stories that will once more strike fear into your heart and make you dread sundown. These are tales to make the vampire cool again.”

To get further information on Michael West, or the Vampires Don’t Sparkle! anthology, please visit Michael’s site at www.bymichaelwest.com or the Seventh Star Press site at www.seventhstarpress.com

 

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

Announcing Call for Entries on Hero’s Best Friend Anthology

For Immediate Release
February 19,  2013

Announcing Call for Entries on Hero’s Best Friend Anthology

Seventh Star Press announces a call for entries on Hero’s Best Friend: An Anthology of Animal Companions.   Edited by Scott Sandridge, the speculative fiction anthology brings the spotlight to the noble animal companions of heroic characters.

Hero’s Best Friend welcomes stories of between 2,000 and 10,000 words from all genres of speculative fiction.  All kinds of cultural settings, types of animals, and genres are encouraged for these tales.  The stories should center on the perspective of the animal, in the way that a story would focus on Shadowfax rather than Gandalf, to use one well-known example of a heroic character and animal companion.

Residing in Ohio, editor and author Scott M. Sandridge’s first short story, “Treecutter,” was published in The Sword Review in July 2005. Since then, he’s gone on to publish over 26 more short stories, and over 60 reviews. He has also been a columnist for the Double-Edged Publishing webzines, a Submissions Editor for Ray Gun Revival, and the Managing Editor of Fear and Trembling.  Scott is also an active blogger whose site can be found at: http://smsand.wordpress.com

Hero’s Best Friend will be released in trade paperback and eBook formats in late 2013.  The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2013, and full information on the anthology can be found at https://seventhstarpress.com/submissions/

 

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

 

Seventh Star Press Announces Call for Entries on New Anthology Co-Edited by David J. Guyton and Stephen Zimmer

For Immediate Release
February 11, 2013

Seventh Star Press proudly announces a call for entries for Fires of Liberty (Volume One): A Speculative Fiction Celebration of Freedom, the first release of an exciting new anthology series that will be as inspiring as it is thought-provoking.

Co-edited by David J. Guyton and Stephen Zimmer, the anthology challenges authors to explore what freedom really means, and the unique value of the individual, within a speculative fiction environment.  Fires of Liberty is an invitation to exploration, celebration, and self-discovery.

The project welcomes stories of 2,000 to 10,000 words in size  from all corners of the speculative fiction world, including science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, alternate history, dystopian, and more.  Special consideration for inclusion is being given to stories that are prequels, or preludes, to an author’s existing or upcoming series.  Fires of Liberty is scheduled for a Fall 2013 release in trade paperback and eBook formats, and will feature cover art from one of SSP’s award-winning artists.

The themes of the anthology are very close to heart for both of the project’s editors, who are speculative fiction authors with ongoing series that explore the kinds of themes to be featured in Fires of Liberty.

David J. Guyton is a fantasy author and artist currently residing in the eastern United States.  He is known for his Legend of Reason series, a fantasy saga which currently features three titles, Mighty Hammer Down, Blood and Bronze, and Soul Under the Mountain.

Stephen Zimmer is an author and filmmaker residing in Lexington, Kentucky.  His work as an author includes the epic-scale, urban fantasy Rising Dawn Saga, the epic fantasy Fires in Eden series, the Harvey and Solomon steampunk tales, and the forthcoming Hellscapes horror stories.

“David and I are really excited about Fires of Liberty,” Stephen remarked.  “The themes are very important to both of us, and we are really looking forward to seeing some very inspiring and insightful stories brought to life as a result of this project.  The life of an author requires an independent streak, the pursuit of a dream, self-determination and self-motivation, so I am very confident that all kinds of writers will be able to connect and resonate with the themes featured in this anthology.”

The deadline for story submissions is June 1, 2013, and full information on the anthology project can be found at: https://seventhstarpress.com/submissions/

 

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

 

 

Seventh Star Press Announces New Trilogy From Steven Shrewsbury

For Immediate Release
February 8, 2013

Seventh Star Press proudly announces A Story of Goliath, a brand new, epic-scale sword and sorcery trilogy from Steven Shrewsbury.  The trilogy gets underway with the first book, Philistine, to be released in early summer of 2013.

Set within the same world as Shrewsbury’s increasingly popular Gorias La Gaul stories, A Story of Goliath takes place many centuries later and follows the adventures and exploits of the legendary biblical figure Goliath.  Readers of the trilogy can expect a gritty, hard-hitting take on the great warrior, set within a world rife with dark supernatural dangers, violence, lust, and all manner of elements both villainous and heroic that Shrewsbury’s sword and sorcery tales are known to contain.

In Philistine, Goliath, rumored to be the offspring of a fallen angel, is a champion warrior of Philistia, a land with five great cities each ruled by a king.  Serving the Kings of Philistia, Goliath is pulled into a great conflict as a rogue general named Samien seeks to establish a new confederation, and throw off the yoke of older rulers and gods alike.

With his shield bearer, Abimelech, and a company of soldiers, Goliath sets out on missions for the five kings and encounters alchemists, the rising of ancient cities, bizarre creatures, cannibal wizards and dire dreams of death for his people.  The schemes of demons and humans intertwine, and Goliath discovers that humanity sometimes rivals the demonic horde in desire, greed and hate.

The trilogy will bring the team behind the Gorias La Gaul novel Overkill together again, as Joshua H. Leet will be handling editing duties, and award-winning artist Matthew Perry will be creating cover designs and interior illustrations for the novels.  A limited edition hardcover is planned, along with trade paperback and eBook versions.

Residing in Illinois, Steven Shrewsbury is a fantasy and horror author whose work has appeared in numerous short stories and novels.  His Gorias La Gaul tales include the novels Thrall and Overkill (both from Seventh Star Press), as well as the short stories “Beginning of the Trail”, “Author and Finisher of Our Flesh”, and “Insurmountable”, which are all available as eBooks from Seventh Star Press.  Other novel credits include Hell Billy (Bad Moon Books) Tormentor (Lachesis Publishing), Hawg (Graveside Tales) and Stronger Than Death (Snuff Books).

For further information on Steven Shrewsbury releases or Seventh Star Press, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com or the author’s site at: sshrewsbury.wordpress.com

 

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

Announcing D.A. Adams’ Between Dark and Light Virtual Tour

For Immediate Release
Februrary 6, 2013

Seventh Star Press proudly announces the Between Dark and Light Virtual Tour featuring author D.A. Adams from February 18th to March 16th.  The tour will feature a wide range of activities at a number of great speculative fiction blog sites, including guest posts, interviews, character interviews, excerpts, promotional spotlights, and many reviews.

Between Dark and Light is the fourth book in the increasingly popular and highly-acclaimed Brotherhood of Dwarves Series.  The latest installment in the YA fantasy series is now available in eBook and softcover formats, and a special limited hardcover edition is going to be announced and made available for ordering during the tour!

Between Dark and Light also brought back the talents of award-winning artist Bonnie Wasson, who created the cover and new interior illustrations.  Her artwork for the series landed an  Artist Choice Award for Best Warrior in the 2012 Dragon*Con Art Show, for the cover artwork of the first book, The Brotherhood of Dwarves.

Below is the schedule of dates, blog sites, and activities for the Between Dark and Light Tour:

 

2013 Between Dark and Light Virtual Tour

2/18 I Smell Sheep                                  Guest Post
2/19 Watch Play Read                            Interview
2/20 Read 2 Review                                Character Interview
2/21 Page Turner Book Tours                 Contest/Giveaway
2/22 The Oaken Bookcase                      Excerpt
2/22 Louann Carol                                    Promo/Spotlight
2/23 GMTA UK                                          Interview/Excerpt
2/24 The Independent Review                  Review
2/25 From the Bootheel Cotton Patch      Excerpt
2/26 Beauty in Ruins                                 Guest Post
2/27 Full Moon Bites                                  Character Interview
2/28 Ali’s Bookshelf                                    Review
3/1 Bee’s Knees Reviews                         Review
3/2 Bookishly Me                                       Excerpt/Spotlight
3/3 SpecMusicMuse                                  Review
3/4 GMTA                                                   Excerpt
3/5 Angela Meadon                                     Interview
3/5 D Renee Bagby Presents YA First Chapters        Excerpt
3/6 Pandragon Dan                                    Review
3/6 A Book Vacation                                   Excerpt and Contest
3/7 Lost Inside the Covers                         Review
3/8 Darlene’s Book Nook                           Guest Post
3/9 Sheila Deeth                                         Guest Post
3/10 John F. Allen                                       Promo/Spotlight
3/10 Spellbindings                                      Review
3/11 Workaday Reads                               Review
3/12 Celticlady’s Reviews                          Promo/Spotlight
3/12 Horsham Writers Circle                     Review/Interview
3/12 The One Saga                                    Review/Excerpt
3/13 WTF Are You Reading                       Review
3/13 Beagle Book Space                            Promo/Spotlight
3/14 Urban Fantasy Reviews                     Guest Post
3/15 The Cabin Goddess                            Fourth Wall Friday
3/16 Jess Resides Here                              Review

For further information on D.A. Adams releases or Seventh Star Press, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com or the author’s site at: www.daadams.com

 

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

 

Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces Selah Janel as Newest Member of Author Family

For Immediate Release
February 4, 2013

Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces Selah Janel as Newest Member of Its Author Family

Seventh Star Press is proud to announce the addition of Selah Janel to its author family with an exciting four book, cross-genre series called The Kingdom City Chronicles.  With its unique blend of humor, urban fantasy, horror, fantasy, and iconic figures from folk tales and legends, The Kingdom City Chronicles will appeal to a wide range of speculative fiction readers.

The first novel of The Kingdom City Chronicles, Olde School, is projected for a Fall 2013 release window.  Subsequent titles will follow at a pace of one per year.

In The Kingdom City Chronicles, readers can look forward to a lot of familiar fantasy creatures and ideas, although those latter two elements will be turned completely on their heads!  Kingdom City is a fantasy world caught between tradition and modernization.  All the characters are trapped between past history and progression.

Readers will encounter trolls and princesses, dwarves and magical creatures, but they will be seen in a whole new light. Some renowned fairy-tale and folk story characters will make appearances, but readers will see the real story behind the legends. If fantasy characters can be caught in their own version of urban fantasy, where their world is the “real” and “urban” world, then Kingdom City and the surrounding areas is where it happens!

“I’ve wanted to work with Seventh Star Press first, because they produce amazing series that feature new variations on the fantasy, horror, and sci-fi genres,” Selah commented.  “Seventh Star Press genuinely loves the genres they publish. Then also because of the huge sense of community they have. Every Seventh Star author I’ve met always has great things to say about everyone else, and it’s wonderful to be part of a group that thinks like that.”

Joshua H. Leet will be working with Selah as the editor for The Kingdom City Chronicles .  Interior illustrations and cover art from SSP’s award-winning artists will be featured in all versions of Olde School and subsequent titles, from a special limited hardcover edition to the trade paperback and eBook editions.

A Midwest girl at heart and in residence, Selah Janel is fueled by a love of ideas, stories, and the potential of magic hiding in the mundane. She mostly writes fantasy and horror, but is known to stray into other genres if the idea beckons. She is the author of several short e-books with Mocha Memoirs Press and No Boundaries Press. Her first novel, the urban fantasy story In the Red, blends dark fantasy with fairy tale themes and rock n’ roll. Her work has also been included in The MacGuffin, The Realm Beyond, Stories for Children Magazine, and several upcoming anthologies.  She’s also worked as a performer, puppeteer, and in costume design and construction.

“Selah’s got more energy than a high-end nuclear reactor running at full capacity,” fellow SSP author Stephen Zimmer remarked.  “As a writer, she’s got a wonderful range, in that she could thrive in any sub genre of speculative fiction.  Add to that an iron work ethic, generous nature towards authors and readers alike, and a rock star flair, and you’ve got a real literary force to be reckoned with!”

For further information on Selah Janel releases or Seventh Star Press, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com or the author’s site at: www.selahjanel.wordpress.com

 

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

 

Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces John F. Allen as Newest Member of Author Family

For Immediate Release
February 1, 2013

Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces John F. Allen as Newest Member of Its Author Family

 

Seventh Star Press is proud to announce the addition of John F. Allen to its author family with a six book deal that launches the Ivory Blaque series for urban fantasy readers and those who love well-crafted speculative fiction.  The upcoming releases will feature a pair of story arcs that each comprise three novels, with The God Killers Legacy to be published first, and The Blood Legacy following after.

The first novel of The God Killers Legacy, The God Killers, is slated for a summer release in 2013.  It will be followed by The Conclave, and The Magistrate, to complete the first story arc.

In The God Killers, former professional art thief Ivory Blaque is hired to procure a pair of antique pistols and gets much more than she bargained for when several attempts are made on her life.

Her client turns out to be a shadowy government agent who reveals that she is descended from a race of immortals, that the pistols are linked to her unique heritage and the special psychic gifts she possesses, he uses the memory of her father to guilt her into working for him.

Ivory eventually gives in to his request, and in return, he presents her with her father’s journal, which was written in an unbreakable code. Bishop believes that she is the only one capable of breaking the code and unlocking the plans of the vampire hierarchy. But when the city’s top vampire is a sexy incubus with the hots for her and she’s assigned a hot new lycan enforcer to protect her, she finds herself caught between two sets of rock hard abs.

To regain her autonomy, clear her name, unlock the secrets of her past, and protect the lives of those closest to her, Ivory must play along with the forces trying to manipulate her. Ivory’s life is rapidly spiraling out of control and headed for an explosive conclusion which she just might not survive.

“I was introduced to Seventh Star Press through Rodney Carlstrom and RJ Sullivan,” John commented.  “Once I got to meet Stephen Zimmer and the other SSP writers, I felt completely at home. It was the sense of family and friendliness as well as the professionalism which drew me to want to be a part of the Seventh Star Press family!”

Karen M. Leet will be working with John as the editor for The God Killers Legacy .  Interior illustrations and cover art from Enggar Adirasa, the most recent addition to SSP’s growing team of artists, will be featured in all versions of The God Killers, from a special limited hardcover edition to the trade paperback and eBook editions.

Living in the Indianapolis area with his wife and two children, John F. Allen is a member of Indiana Writer’s Center and Indiana Horror Writers, and serves as its Vice President. He studied Liberal Arts with a focus on Creative Writing at IUPUI and has written numerous short stories, as well as articles and reviews on his blog.  The God Killers represents John’s debut as a novelist.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have John with us,” fellow SSP author Stephen Zimmer stated.  “In addition to being a highly talented writer, readers will find him very approachable.  When you are around John, you get a really strong sense of his dedication to his writing, and you also see how much goodwill he has towards fellow authors.  He’s definitely a wonderful addition to our family at SSP, and readers can look forward to some big things ahead from John!”

For further information on John F. Allen’s releases or Seventh Star Press, please visit www.seventhstarpress.com or the author’s site at: www.johnfallenwriter.com

 

Contact: C.C. James
Public Relations, Seventh Star Press
ccjames (at) seventhstarpress.com

Seventh Star Press is a small press publisher of speculative fiction located in Lexington Kentucky

 

New Video Trailer for H. David Blalock’s Traitor Angel Now Up!

A new video trailer is now up for H. David Blalock’s Traitor Angel, the second title of his highly-acclaimed Angelkiller Triad.  If you’ve read the books, help spread the word, and if you have not, discover what these books are all about.  One of the most thought-provoking urban fantasy series to be published in recent years, the Angelkiller Triad fuses the supernatural and the technological in a thrilling tale chock full of action and intrigue.

Enjoy the trailer and be sure to share it on your social media platforms!