Posts Tagged ‘The Shadows That We Carry (anthology)’

“The Shadows That We Carry” is Now Available!!!

Posted: May 7, 2026 in Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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I don’t know if I’ve ever been more excited for an anthology to be out over the short story I have in it. It’s a weird feeling, but still amazing. An anthology I am extremely proud to be in. And it is now available.

So, in case you didn’t hear, The Shadows That We Carry is an anthology organized in memory of my friend and colleague MG Mason, better known as Matt. Matt was a British horror author who also organized a huge weekly meetup on Twitter (which later moved to BlueSky) called #HorrorWritersChat. For many, #HorrorWritersChat was not just a lot of fun–you know, talking about horror, writing habits, coming up with creepy microfiction–but a community. It still is. We’re still doing it, every Wednesday on BlueSky.

Sadly, Matt is no longer with us. He died of pancreatic cancer in November 2025. And he was such a cheerleader for his fellow horror writers. So when it was announced by one of the #HorrorWritersChat regulars that an anthology in his memory was in the works, I wrote something with the hope that I could be part of that noble effort.

As you can guess, I have a story in the anthology. “The Static Man” follows a college coed who is being stalked by an entity that resembles a man made a TV static. My beta reader Louise Conway, who is also in the anthology, told me she thought it was very creepy, so I’m very excited to hear what the rest of my Followers of Fear think.

Did I mention that proceeds from the anthology will go to charity? No? Well, proceeds from sales of The Shadows That We Carry are going to charity. Specifically, to the MacMillan Cancer Support fund, a UK cancer charity that seeks to aid all people in Britain affected by cancer. It was Matt’s favorite charity, and I’m glad I’m able to contribute to helping it, even if only a little.

Anyway, I hope you decide to check out the anthology. I’ll include links below. If you do and you read it, I hope you leave a review online so we know what you thought. Also, tell all your horror-loving friends and family. The more people who know, the better. And if you really like “The Static Man,” then please let me know. Your feedback makes me want to write more and better stories!

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you enjoy the anthology when you get a copy (mine arrives this weekend). And until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Amazon UK
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I’ve Received My First Acceptance of 2026 (And It Is Special)

Posted: March 2, 2026 in Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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I’ve been sitting on this news for a month. I had to wait until it was official and all the paperwork was signed. Now, it’s time to let it all out.

As many of you remember, my friend Matt Mason, AKA the author MG Mason, died of cancer back in November (you can read my full post written in his memory here). He built a thriving community online around “Horror Writers Chat,” a weekly get-together on BlueSky where we all talked about horror and writing through questions and reposts and supporting each other. His death affected us greatly, and we still miss him.

One of our members, William Beck, who owns his own publishing press, organized a charity anthology in Matt’s memory, The Shadows That We Carry. He invited all of us to write stories to contribute to the anthology. If it’s not obvious, I wrote a story that would hopefully be included in the anthology and would honor Matt’s memory.

I can now say with both honor and humility that my contribution, “The Static Man,” will appear in The Shadows That We Carry.

I’m so happy to be in this anthology. The writers who participate in Horror Writers Chat every week are amazing storytellers, and I’m looking forward to being in an anthology with them. Especially one that will not only honor Matt’s memory, but help others. You see, proceeds from sales of The Shadows That We Carry will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support, a British charity that was dear to Matt. The charity supports people with cancer through medical, informational, and financial support. They are one of the largest charities in Britain, and seek to improve the lives of all in the UK affected by cancer. You can find out more about them here.

Honestly, that seems like a wonderful mission and I’m happy to do my part to help.

As for my story, “The Static Man,” I think you’re going to enjoy it. It’s the story of a college co-ed who is being stalked by an entity made entirely of what appears to be TV static. One of the other authors participating in the anthology, Louise Conway, read it and gave it some positive feedback, so I think plenty more horror fans will enjoy it as well. I tried to make it as claustrophobic and unnerving as possible.

Anyway, the release date for The Shadows That We Carry has yet to be announced, so I’ll be sure to let you know once it has. I hope you’re excited to read it, as well as my short story “The Static Man.” And in the meantime, if you’re looking for something to spooky to read, you know I have quite the catalog already available.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to celebrate with some reading and maybe a cocktail. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.