Mark Cassell

Make Christmas horror an event again with his delightful tales of holiday treachery. While you're certain to meet some resistance in asking your family to gather around for a yuletide horror tale, give it a shot. It may be just the gift they didn't know they needed.

A trio of festive terror From the author of the Shadow Fabric mythos comes this 70-page Christmas chapbook featuring three stories. SANTA'S ELITEWhile human population fast approaches eight billion, it's up to Santa's special branch to lessen his seasonal workload. AWAY IN A MANGLERThere's a shop, selling unique gifts, whose proprietor has a horrifying secret or two he does not want shared. HO HO HOLLOWSomething out in the woods turns a family Christmas into a day of death and despair. "Turning up the heat is Santa's Elite ... A more casual style to this story and] I wasn't sure exactly what I was expecting from this but in true Cassell style he brought it in. Reference to some fairly close to home stuff for many, this story manages to be respectful in it's endeavour to entertain it's audience. If you want a gritty festive tale of mutiny you've got it."- Rebbie Reviews on Santa's Elite Original publications: SANTA'S ELITE (originally published in The Horror Collection: White Edition anthology by KJK Publishing, 2019)AWAY IN A MANGLER (originally published in Bah Humbug anthology by Matt Shaw Publications, 2016)HO HO HOLLOW (originally published in Collected Christmas Horror: Vol. 2 anthology by KJK Publishing, 2018)

Monster Double Feature - a duo of abominationsFrom the author of the Shadow Fabric mythos comes this 78-page chapbook featuring two stories. A British traveller desperate to escape his past finds himself at the heart of a Vietnamese legend, and learns why the Mekong Delta is known as "River of Nine Tails." And a regular parcel collection from a neighbour becomes a descent into terror through the online game, "Reanimation Channel." RIVER OF NINE TAILS (originally published in In Darkness, Delight: Creatures of the Night anthology by Corpus Press, 2019) "I got a BAD case of the heebie jeebies from this one."- Char's Corner "Vietnamese river setting, world travellers, a little DiCaprio The Beach feel for me, river monsters, ritual sacrifice, and evolutionary themes."- Well Read Beard "This was an adventure tale filled with some gory fun and there were even some tentacles You can't ever go wrong with added tentacles if you ask me."- Bark Reviews REANIMATION CHANNEL (originally published in The Black Room Manuscripts Vol.4 anthology by The Sinister Horror Company, 2018) "A tale pulsing with raw tension and twisted-as-holy-hell horror. There's no hanging around in this adrenaline-pumping descent into messed-up sci-fi horror. Akin to Richard Stanley's cult film 'Hardware' (1990), the story pumps the fast and furious action into its narrative like there's no tomorrow, exploring the disturbing possibilities of the dark web, with the corruption of biotechnology and the horrific consequences it could cause. But it's the pounding, unrelenting drive of the story that ultimately makes it such an intense and captivating read. There's no putting the book down once you've started reading the tale. It cranks up the blood-greased gears at an alarming rate, hurtling us through a chaotic storm of chaos and monstrous carnage. Cassell doesn't hold back one bit in upping the ante at every opportunity. Creating a story that reaches catastrophic proportions far quicker than you would have thought possible. This my friends is how you deliver grisly sci-fi horror."- DLS Reviews

"A welcome mix of the strange, the unnerving and the outright gory." - Amazon reviewer.23 Horror StoriesA collection of twenty-three stories inverting witchcraft and demonology tropes, bringing you the supernatural, the occult, hauntings, and creatures of the night, each with a different slant. The tales within these pages rip the fabric of our reality, where loose stitches and threads allow us to see, not just in the dark, but into the core of fear, of wonder, and beyond . . . into the void. Here you will discover tales that include a hangover from hell, a bizarre Easter egg and its nest, a clinical trial in the 1980s, a grandfather's secret that carries down through generations, accidental resurrections across the globe, and many other deep-rooted evils humankind should have kept buried. This book contains the following horror stories: PILE OF DIRT ON THE VINE THE REBIRTH DUST DEVILS WELCOME HOME MIDNIGHT CLAY DIAGONAL DEAD A DEMON'S THREAD THE ARTIST AND THE CRONE INTENSIVE SCARE TEN MINUTES TILL DEADTIME A STORY OF AMBER DUE SOUTH MEETING MUM DEAD LINES DISTURBED SEEING IS BELIEVING NEXT ON THE LIST THE COMMISSION CLAIMED DEMON ALCOHOL RED, WHITE & BLACK A SUNSET COMPANION All stories have been previously published in the collections, Sinister Stitches and Terror Threads, as well as anthologies and ezines. Author interview: Which subgenre/s of horror does your work fall into? MC: "Genre is fluid. I'm not one for a gorefest. My horror leans towards psychological creeps rather than pathological freaks."What is it about the horror genre that appeals to you as both reader and writer? MC: "The unknown, the unnatural, the supernatural. I've always wondered what exists on the Other Side." Associated publishers: Burdizzo Books, Corpus Press, Crystal Lake Publishing, Dark Terror Publications, EyeCue Productions, Future Chronicles, KJK Publishing, Lafcadio Press, Matt Shaw Publications, Scimitar Press, Severed Press, Shadows at the Door Publishing, Sinister Horror Company, Sirens Call Publications

Pull a thread ... and you'll be dead.Ten standalone tales in the best-selling Shadow Fabric Mythos. Each story of ghosts, of demons, of the occult, weaves the mythos tighter and proves we all have the power to see in the dark. Both an introduction to the Shadow Fabric and a companion book, this collection of horror stories contains the following: "Dust Devils" - When a driving instructor's pupil fails to turn up for a lesson, he doesn't just drive off. He investigates ... things. "A Story of Amber" - Two brothers and a grandfather's secret. This is a story that begins in childhood and ends in adulthood. "Claimed" - In Yellowstone Country Park things are black. "The Rebirth" - A primary school teacher's lesson fails to go to plan when a peculiar Easter egg lands in her possession. "Dead Lines" - An artist learns she is not the only one holding the brush. "Pile of Dirt" - After a serious accident, all you want to do is relax in your garden. But the mysterious pile of dirt that has appeared on your lawn bugs the hell out of you. "The Commission" - A photographer's commission proves to be a pain in the neck. "Diagonal Dead" - It's a shame the dead can't stay dead, especially those who are discovered in a wall cavity. "Demon Alcohol" - Staying at a bed and breakfast in a quaint harbour town, Tammy is not in the mood for uninvited guests. Especially when she's hungover and the guests are demons. "A Sunset Companion" - The low October sun can cause road accidents by blinding drivers ... but perhaps there are other causes in the surrounding woodland. Most of the stories featured in this collection have been previously published in anthologies. What the reviewers say.Dust Devils (first published in Tales from the Lake Vol.4 (Crystal Lake Publishing, 2017): "When a driving instructor went to pick up his last learner, he did not expect to get involved in a mystical monster attack. Having read other work by this author I was not disappointed with the story. An ancient monster, a deranged man and bloody death scenes, all things that I love..." - Amazon reviewer A Story of Amber (first published in Collected Halloween Horror Shorts (KJK Publications, 2017): "Brothers Chuck and Dillion were farm kids who experienced an unexplainable freakish event in their fields one Halloween. They are all grown up now and have unfortunately drifted apart. You've heard of gemstones having healing properties, well, what if the opposite was true... Oh that antagonistic Amber, a beauty to be wary of as it unifies and evades. So damn unique, I had NO idea what was going on here I just knew that I was digging it. Mark is a very highly regarded indie author with quite a few highly regarded works out there. I have only read two short stories of his, so far, but I can totally see why. His writing is like alternate (yet not bizarro) dimension kind of stuff, multi layered with precise attention to detail. I really need to check out more from him. His Shadow Fabric Mythos series is....yep, you guessed it, very highly regarded." - Goodreads review Book categories: Supernatural HorrorOccult HorrorDemons and DevilsGhosts and Spirits and HauntingsMystery and SuspenseShort StoriesTales of TerrorShadow Fabric MythosShadows and DarknessGood Versus EvilHaunted House StoriesDemonic Possession

This book is crammed with fertile seeds for fiction that will thrill, disturb or scare your readers. Each prompt comes with a wealth of suggestions for how you can develop it to suit the kind of story you want to write. Plant those seeds into the rich ground of your own imagination, and watch them grow.

Three Sussex authors ... Twelve horror stories. Take a terrifying journey to a coastline associated with candyfloss and amusement arcades, and see it stripped to the bone. Whether it's seagulls that prove to be more than a nuisance, the mysterious inhabitants of a forgotten village, or a fisherman whose Easter eggs are not for consumption, the horrors are always there ... and much closer than we care to admit. Stories include: Mark Cassell's - The Rebirth - The Commission - Demon Alcohol - Away in a Mangler Jonathan Broughton's - The Stealth of Spiders - You Have One Message - Furzby Holt - The Pensioner Pirates of Marine Parade Rayne Hall's - Seagulls - Normal, Considering the Weather - Scruples - Double Rainbows

Shy accountant Anne returns to the village of Mabley Holt to piece together her life after a family tragedy. When her cat vanishes, and a neighbour claims to speak with his dead wife, she soon learns there's more to the village than any resident dares admit. In search of her beloved pet, she discovers not only family secrets but also revelations of a local legend. As she treads an unsteady path between folklore and fact, her confidence in where she grew up begins to crumble ... Into hell. Set in the bestselling Shadow Fabric mythos, Hell Cat of the Holt is not just a ghost story, and is much more than a black cat sighting.A Supernatural Suspense ThrillerFrom Mark Cassell, author of the best-selling supernatural horror novel The Shadow Fabric, this novella further explores his expanding occult mythos. His work has been compared with British horror authors such as James Herbert, Clive Barker, Dennis Wheatley, and Brian Lumley. Also, his influences spread over to the US where he admits to having been first inspired by Dean Koontz, Stephen King, Dan Simmons, and H P Lovecraft.

In a disturbed future, remnants of the human race starve while a new world authority strangles freedom. Abigale - part human, part something else - escapes their control, and combating the militia she begins to uncover her origins, taking her beyond the city walls and into a scorched Earth. With a blend of cyberpunk and science fiction, this dystopian future unearths secrets that other worlds needed forgotten. From Mark Cassell, author of the best-selling The Shadow Fabric. Chaos Halo 1.0: Alpha Beta Gamma Kill is a collection of six stories, including the first episodes of a speculative fiction saga in association with Future Chronicles.

SINISTER STITCHES - by Mark Cassell, author of the best-selling British Horror Novel The Shadow Fabric. This paperback edition contains a BONUS STORY. Thirteen horror stories weave truths you do not want to hear. The collection includes: INTENSIVE SCARE - Three teenagers dabble in the occult and learn there's a good reason to be afraid of the dark.RED, WHITE AND BLACK - When a clinical trial goes horribly wrong, a lone survivor finds herself fleeing from a sentient infection.MEETING MUM - Introducing a new girlfriend to your parents has never been so problematic.MIDNIGHT CLAY - An otherwise pleasant homeward journey is interrupted by a demon with a particularly grotesque skill. Each story binds the Shadow Fabric mythos tighter, revealing that everything around us is entwined with a deep-rooted darkness. And sometimes that darkness - the fabric - tears.

Ten Fantasy Stories by Ten Authors. Of all paranormal creatures, demons are the most dangerous. Intelligent and deceitful, they are masters of disguise and crafty manipulation. They stir evil desires, exploit moral weaknesses, disguise the boundaries between right and wrong, plant convictions in the victim's mind, and persuade humans that they want the thing the demon aims to bring about. Every culture in the world has demons, but their shape, nature and purpose varies so much that it would be impossible to give a single definition. In this anthology, ten authors share their vision of demons, some drawing from their ethnic and cultural backgrounds, others inspired by observations from real life, all blended with the writers' vivid imagination. Their stories span a wide spectrum of styles - scary, funny, disturbing and thought-provoking. 1. THIEF AND DEMON by Jake Elwood A gutter rat gets an offer she can't refuse. 2. DISTURBED by Mark Cassell A deep-rooted evil awakens and the camping trip turns sour. 3. NINE RINGS OF SILVER AND ONE OF BRONZE by Rayne Hall Time has come for Mourad to face his fear and atone for his guilt. 4. DETRITUS AT THE CHURCH F TE by Heide Goody and Iain Grant A demon is sent to earth to disrupt the harmless pleasures of English rural life. 5. NON-DISCLOSURE by Mitch Sebourn An ailing lawyer investigates a potential lawsuit involving a demon of Native American tradition. 6. INNER DEMON by Pamela Turner Desperate to break his curse, a hemophobic serial killer confronts his inner demon. 7. NEREZZA by Debbie Christiana In the end, who's the real demon? 8. THE DEVIL NEVER TAKES A VACATION... AND NEITHER DO I by Douglas Kolacki A man whose profession is all things spiritual, ought to have known... 9. THE TOUCH OF THE TANIWHA by Tracie McBride The Taniwha. Protector? Monster? Or something else entirely? The four perspectives presented in this tale may not bring you any closer to the truth. 10. STONE CITY, OLD AS IMMEASURABLE TIME by Kelda Crich An ancient voice speaks across continents; a mother hears the call.

Governments throughout the world confront enormous challenges when divesting. Whether it is poor-performing bank loans in Japan and Korea, military bases in the United States, or real estate in eastern Europe, the challenge of public divestment is more than just a question of how to map a path to economic efficiency. Conventional wisdom in public management and privatization literature says that the execution of such enormous tasks as divestment is typically done poorly, and that the government strategy is likely to be inefficient. Mark Cassell argues that privatization must be understood as a political and administrative puzzle rather than simply an exercise in economic efficiency. This study of two successful divestment agencies - the U.S. Resolution Trust Corporation and the German Treuhandanstalt - presents a complex understanding of the two agencies' performance in privatizing hundreds of billions of dollars of assets following two very different crises, the savings and loan debacle in the United States and unification in Germany. In the U.S., the worst economic problem since the Great Depression forced the government to recreate and reshape private property on an immense scale. In Germany, melding East and West Germany involved converting an entire national economy that employed more than four million people. In each case, unassuming public agencies handled two of the largest public sales of assets in this century. Cassell identifies the importance and effects of managerial structures and of national institutions-legislatures and executives - on the outcomes of the reform efforts. This book will be of interest to those interested in alternatives to traditional public-sector structures, electoral connections to bureaucracies, comparative political economy, and the historic events of the aftermath of the savings and loan crisis and German unification. It is crucial reading for policy and public administration practitioners and scholars alike.