New Short Fiction – “The Girl In 114”

Standard

Hot off the presses at Hiraeth Books, the newest issue of Dark As Life has my newest publication, “The Girl In 114.” Set in the Toronto neighbourhood of Parkdale, centered on the infamous West Lodge towers, the story concerns two generations’ obsession with the same ghost, and the myths and rumours that spring up among locals when the eerie and inexplicable occurs.

“It was just chance encounters at first, stoned kids wandering through the hallways between one place to chill or another. When you’re in an altered state, it’s much more comfortable to get off the elevator on the second floor and walk down to the exits. It avoids the problem where the elevator doors open in the lobby and there’s a mixture of people ranging from disapproving elders from more traditionalist cultures to the overbearing and imposing Spanish woman who runs the rental office. Kids looking to avoid that scene, then, almost always pass through the hallway outside 114. One night, closer to the witching hour than not, a trio came out of the elevator and were halfway down the shabby hall when they saw the little girl standing in the middle of the dirty carpet. She didn’t notice them, and they edged by her with wide eyes and disbelieving expressions on their faces. They could have lied to themselves later about the appearance just being some weird kid, but the side of the girl’s head was stoved in and her eyes flickered. Even then, when her corporeal hold on reality was strongest, her eyes phased in and out of being. The old chestnut about the eyes being the window to the soul never supposed those windows being shattered with a brick.” 

Trevor James Zaple, “The Girl In 114”

Grab a copy of Dark As Life 2 and get spooked tonight! Click on the image below to be taken to Hiraeth’s shop. Don’t forget to check out my most recent work with Crow & Cross Keys and Sinister Smile Press, or the full list of available work.

Cover image of Dark As Life 2, from Hiraeth Books

Secrets, Some Of Them Even True

Standard

Continue reading

+Horror Library+ 7, Available Now!

Standard

The long-running and much-loved horror anthology +Horror Library+, published through Dark Moon Books, has released its latest iteration and your humble music nerd/fiction writer servant has a piece included in it! Check out the links below to get your own copy. If you’re into horror it’s a no-brainer.

Direct from Dark Moon Books

Via Amazon

Via Barnes & Noble

Rate/Review on Goodreads

Fourth Time, First Win: NaNoWriMo 2021

Image

Text Mining: Rage

Standard

Rage (1977)

Today we turn our attention to the first Richard Bachman book, Rage, a book that lives up to it’s name in as pure a fashion as you could imagine. If you haven’t found a copy of this yet, you might want to get on that: they aren’t making any more of them, at the behest of the author. As the events depicted in the book came into depressing vogue in the 21st Century, King feared that the portrayal of Charlie Decker would give aid and comfort to others in similarly desperate emotional situations.

It’s about a school shooter, you see.

Continue reading

Time Sinks, Obscure Metal Acts, and Crusader Kings II: I Nab A Guest Spot On Literate Gamer

Standard

http://octopuspark.libsyn.com/crusader-kings-ii-trevor-zaple

Visit the above link.  Such is the path to madness You’ll find an excellent podcast episode of Literate Gamer featuring yours truly.  Crusader Kings II!  Was there ever a more fascinating way to avoid all of your responsibilities?  There most certainly was not.

 

Soon To Be Featured On Dirty Little Bookers!

Standard

 

A rather excellent artist I know gave me some advice the last time I saw him, and it was to the effect that art announcements should only be done a week or so in advance, so people don’t have time to forget them.  To that end, I’m proud to announce that the November spot on literature blog Dirty Little Booker’s “Calling All Indies” feature was won by yours truly, and I’ll be featured over there starting some time in the next week (as they work a month behind or so).  So, like voting in Chicago elections, visit early and visit often:  www.dirtylittlebookers.com