Cold to the Touch: contents

In what is quickly becoming an annual event, I'd like to reveal a few secrets about my upcoming book, COLD TO THE TOUCH, now that the contracts have been signed and delivered and the proofs are being poured over.

It's with extreme pride and pleasure to announce that the book will be published by Tartarus Press as part of their new "contemporary fiction" line. Tartarus has a strong reputation in the field for high quality volumes, and I can only imagine what they have in store for this new imprint. I don't have a date as of yet for the release, nor is there cover artwork to show (what you see above is a placeholder, photographed by my good friend and fellow scribe, Ian Rogers), but these things are being hashed out right now and I'm hopeful there will be something to reveal very soon.

CTTT differs from my previous book in some significant ways. BENEATH THE SURFACE was tremendously influenced by ontological horrors — the world that is out to get us; the things from beyond that plot against us. This volume foregos much of that for a more internal and psychological look at the world. Where the first took place in the cities, this takes place in the world around the cities — in the suburbs, in the fields and in the woods. It also takes place in the hearts and the souls of its characters. I think if one has more of an affinity to spectres than tentacles then reading this second book, COLD TO THE TOUCH, will be a rewarding experience. At least, I hope it will.

Enough prattle. On to what you all came here for: the table of contents. Like last time, nearly half of these tales have not seen publication before. Those that have I think many people will be familiar with as they have appeared in some high-profile places such as THE MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST NEW HORROR or have been recommended for British Fantasy Awards. In many ways, I consider these the best of my work over the past seven years.

Contents:

Under the Overpass (originally appeared in Shades of Darkness)
The Other Village (originally appeared in Strange Tales II)
The Uninvited Guest (originally appeared in Dark Doorways)
A Seed on Barren Ground (previously unpublished)
Writing on the Wall (previously unpublished)
A Chorus of Yesterdays (originally appeared in All Hallows)
The Sweetest Song (previously unpublished)
Pinholes in Black Muslin (originally appeared in The Second Humdrumming Book of Horror Stories)
Fading Light (originally appeared in Bernie Herrmann's Manic Sextet)
Poor Stephanie (originally appeared in Supernatural Tales)
Like Falling Snow (previously unpublished)
Here’s to the Good Life (previously unpublished)
Cold to the Touch (previously unpublished)
author's afterword

Please, keep watching here or Tartarus Press for updates and announcements regarding release dates. I'll of course be updating this site when more information becomes available. I must admit, I'm very excited to see what this book's reaction will be, and trust no one will come away disappointed. (Nevertheless, work has already begun on a third volume ... just in case).