Tales from the Lake

The new breed of legends continues... If you came here to read short stories about tranquil lakes, run to the nearest exit. Run as far away as you can from Ramsey Campbell, Jack Ketchum, Edward Lee, and our array of international voices. Tales from The Lake volume two also includes the three winners from Crystal Lake Publishing's Tales from The Lake Horror Writing Competition: 1st: Descending by John Whalen2nd: Forever Dark by Jonathan Winn3rd: Ripperscape by Vincenzo Bilof Beneath this lake you'll find nothing but mystery and suspense, horror and dread. Not to mention death and misery — tales to share around the campfire or living room floor. Dive beneath a frozen lake with Rena Mason's "Winter's Dollhouse", allow Tim Lebbon to introduce you to "The God of Rain", don't go into the lake when Jim Goforth takes you to the haunting sit of "Lago de los Perdidos", and never get in an elevator again with John Whalen's award-winning "Descending." So dive on in. The water's just...right.

Welcome to The Lake. Remember those dark and scary nights spent telling ghost stories and other campfire tales? With the TALES FROM THE LAKE horror anthology, you can relive the most memorable of those moments by reading the best Dark Fiction stories around. From urban legends and ghosts, African witchdoctors / curses and living dolls, serial killers and seamonsters, to vengeful animals, demons wandering the earth, and the every day fight between good and evil, this anthology has it all. So dive into fourteen tales of horror, with short stories and dark poems by some of the best horror writers in the world, including a story by the master himself, Graham Masterton. Allow the very first installment of TALES FROM THE LAKE to transport you to lakeside terror in "Lover, Come Back to Me", "Lady of Lost Lake", and "Game On"; journey to the basement of your local pet store in "Dead Pull" and your neighborhood pub in "O'Halloran's"; visit the apocalypse in "Devil's Night"; travel to Africa in "Witch-Compass" and "The Reunion"; spend time with talking dolls in "Don't Look at Me"; experience the horrors of drug addiction from close up in "Junksick"; and climb a ladder to the heavens in "Perrollo's Ladder". Volumes 2, 3, and 4 are now available. Proudly brought to you by Crystal Lake Publishing - Tales from the Darkest Depths Interview with the Authors: So what makes Tales from The Lake so special? Jennifer Loring: Tales from the Lake is one of the few anthology series where you can find a balance of established horror authors alongside new and emerging talent. J. Daniel Stone: Tales from the Lake is special, I think, first and foremost in that it's an open-themed horror collection. Themes tend to more than I want to admit, and some might disagree constrict writers. I don't like that about themes. But with Tales from the Lake we are reading stories by writers who are not given any rules. Just write what one loves and submit. That's wonderful. Tell us more about your story, and in which volume it appeared? Jennifer Loring: My story "The Fine Art of Wrecking" was the first place winner of the Tales from the Lake competition. It's based on the traditional legend of wreckers on the East Coast using false lights to run ships ashore to be plundered, but takes a Lovecraftian turn. J. Daniel Stone: My story "Alternative Muses" was the 2nd place winner in the original short story writing contest. The story focuses on a young couple who live on the fringes of society, but who soon are taken back to reality when they get pregnant. Things take a dark turn, and the need to transcend normality and complacency drive this story to a wicked ending. Why should readers give this series a try? Jennifer Loring: You'll find stories from your favorite authors, but the series also gives you a chance to discover new voices. And, being non-themed, it offers something for everyone. J. Daniel Stone: Readers should give this series a try because there is no theme. I think that allows a reader to read from multiple different perspectives and lifestyles. There is no way to be boxed in.