Tag: Anthologies

Posted on

Book Spook-light Thursday: Death Comes Slow in the Bayou by Nick Mendoza

Ending our month-long Spooky Spotlight Thursday, we have “Death Comes Slow in the Bayou”, dripping with dread and steeped in Southern mystery — a chilling journey through whispered legends, buried guilt, and inevitable fates.

Death Comes Slow in the Bayou: The Witch, The Bookseller, and The Bride

Release Date: June 2025

Genre: Southern Gothic Horror/ Short Stories
                                                                                                                                                   
Features
⦁	Southern Gothic Horror
⦁	Witches
⦁	Folklore Curses
⦁	Haunted Brides
⦁	Psychological Unraveling
⦁	Vampires with a Folkloric Edge

Something lingers in the Louisiana night—watching, waiting. Vengeance seeps through the swamps, and the past refuses to stay buried.
In this chilling Southern Gothic horror anthology, author and screenwriter Nick Mendoza weaves three haunting tales of supernatural terror, psychological dread, and creeping folklore. These are stories of the cursed and the desperate—of those who seek answers in the dark, only to find something staring back.

The Witch of Acadiana
When his young son falls gravely ill under unexplainable circumstances, a skeptical father dismisses the whispers of an old woman’s curse. But as the sickness deepens and reason unravels, he’s forced to confront the terrifying possibility that folklore isn’t just legend.

Mirrored Opposition
A distraught young man scours the French Quarter for his missing girlfriend, only to discover her last known whereabouts tied to a reclusive bookseller—rumored to have made a deal with the devil. As he searches for answers, he begins to wonder: what if the rumors are true?

Valeria
In the heart of the South, where secrets fester and grudges never die, a charismatic bachelor offers his quiet coworker advice on how to take control in his relationship. But when the bride-to-be finds out—and a series of catastrophic, almost unnatural events unfold—he begins to wonder if she’s coming for revenge… and if anything can stop her.

Perfect for fans of:

Gothic horror
Psychological thrillers
Supernatural folklore
Dark folklore

AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nick Mendoza is a writer and Nashville Film Festival Screenplay Semifinalist who blends a background in software development and technical writing with a deep love for storytelling. After earning his B.S. in Computer Science from California State University, Fullerton, he authored a comprehensive book on PHP development and an in-depth video series on WordPress website management.

His creative journey led him to screenwriting and filmmaking, where he wrote and directed the indie horror feature “Video Tape Terror.” His screenplays have earned over 20 domestic and international accolades, including recognition from Cinequest, Vail Film Festival, ScreenCraft, and the Manchester Film Festival. His feature “Operation Wandering Soul” has also been recognized by Stage 32, the Dallas International Film Festival, and the Page Turner Awards.

His debut horror collection, “Death Comes Slow in the Bayou”, adapts several of his award-recognized scripts into chilling Southern Gothic short stories.

Posted on

Book Review: Dark Fairytales For The Unloved: Collective Anthology

 Fourteen Indie authors! Fifteen stories of the twisted and macabre! Enter if you dare, a dark fairytale collection that will make the Brothers Grimm either blush or smile with glee. Content and trigger warning precede each tale for an unaware sensitive reader, but the title warns you these are dark fairytales. Now let’s follow the bread crumbs and enter into the darkness.

Dark Fairytales For The Unloved: An Indie Author Collection (Volume One)

Published: March 26th, 2025

Genre: Fairytales/Folklore/Fantasy/Anthologies

Synopsis

Step into a realm where enchantment and darkness intertwine. In this anthology, fourteen master storytellers from diverse backgrounds conjure original fairytales that are as chilling as they are captivating. From eerie forests to twisted kingdoms, each tale spins a web of intrigue, mystery, and danger. Embrace the delicious dread and discover the hidden truths that lurk in the shadows. Perfect for lovers of the macabre and fantastical, these stories will leave you spellbound long after the last page is turned.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

REVIEW

Dark Fairytales For The Unloved is a collection of Fairytales for adults, oozing with dark fairytale-inspired stories. Two are dark retellings of classic tales such as “Elves and the Shoemaker” and” Beauty and the Beast” in spectacular NOURSHMENT and HUNTER & THE BEAST by Gareth Ian Davies and SD Paine. The rest are dark original fairy tale-inspired tales, such as my favorite, the brilliantly written folklorish horror THE PALE MOTHER by Nova B. Quinn and BIRDS OF WINTER by Ruby Ann Stiegelmeier.

Then we have the hauntingly magical with FOXGLOVE and THE BLOOMING CURSE by Stacey LP and Hannah Gardiner. The bottom rips out from under us, and we go deeper and darker with wickedly devilish tales like BEAUTIFUL SUFFERING and SPIT AND SPITE AND ALL THINGS NIGHT by Alex Upchurch & Ellen Winter.

The opening story, REQUIEM, by Marianne Gray, is an absolute banger, setting the tone of the book nicely. While not every story tickled my witchy fancy, the next one usually did. It was a fun read, and I enjoyed getting treated to a new story by a new author. It was like getting a sneak peek into these delicious indie authors’ minds.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars⭐⭐⭐⭐

GET IT TODAY!

Posted on

Book Spotlight Thursday: Anansi’s Web by Derek Mola

I love folklore. So, spotlighting this Thursday is Anansi’s Web by Derek Mola. Anansi’s Web is a fantasy folklore anthology collection inspired by African culture. Curious? Let’s learn more!

Anansi’s Web


Publication Date: January 22, 2024


Genre: Black & African American Fantasy/ Fantasy Anthologies/ Folklore


As Kweku looked above, the room became illuminated by the sudden appearance of thousands of fireflies. An orange glow lit up the room, and a giant spider web was on the ceiling. The web glistened, and each strand was flowing with energy.

“This is the source of all stories, my boy. The source of all life, some may say. For what are we, if not a collection of stories? Each strand of this web is a different story. A story of love, a story of tragedy, a story of life, or a story of death. Sit on my throne, choose a strand, and begin the tale.” explained Anansi.

Anansi is the god of stories, and he has many to tell.

A young boy named Kweku has heard no new stories in a long time. So he travels to see Anansi, the god of stories, in the hopes that he will tell him some new stories. Luckily, he caught Anansi in a good mood, and the god decided to enchant Kweku with tales of magic and wonder. In these 10 stories tangled in a web, a Cowboy befriends a Jackalope, a Kelpie falls in love with a man, and a young boy’s grandmother leaves to live with Fairies. Anansi’s Web is a concoction of fantasy, folklore, and horror. Showing us the magic of the world, while reminding us of the terror it can cause. Like a man on death’s door receiving help from beyond or a woman who regrets her one wish.

AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Derek Mola was born and raised in Massachusetts, graduating from Emerson College, with a degree in Visual Media Production. Tired of the film industry, he became obsessed with horror and fantasy short stories.

Follow Derek at Derek Mola