Since I’ve been asked, here is a list, as of now, of my upcoming releases/projects:

“Inner Goddess” Short Fiction appearing in The Book of the Dead (Jurassic London) October 2013.  Limited Edition (Mummified!) Hardcover now available for pre-order here!

The Legacy of the Gods Book Two: Hades’ Disciples (Seventh Star Press) December 2013/early 2014

“The Grove” Short Fiction appearing in Shroud Magazine #13 ( Shroud Publishing) TBA

Straightjacket Memories  New Short Fiction Collection!  (Seventh Star Press) TBA 2014

The Legacy of the Gods Book Three: Zeus’ Warriors (Seventh Star Press) TBA 2014

That’s the stuff I know about right now, but things are always in flux. LOL And it does not include the big announcement that keeps getting pushed back, but should be coming any day now. I will, of course, keep you all updated as things move forward or become available. And, as always, thank you all for your support!

As one year ends, another begins, like the chapters of a book that you just can’t put down, eager to see what happens to all the characters on the next page.  And let me tell you, faithful readers, there is a lot of exciting stuff coming on those next pages.  But before we look ahead, let’s reflect a moment on the story so far…

2011 was one hell of a year!  It was a rollercoaster ride of the highest highs and lowest lows.  On the high end, I signed on with Seventh Star Press and saw a record number of works published in various magazines and anthologies. 

“Sandwalkers” published in Fell Beasts

“Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite”  published in Shroud #11

“Masako’s Tale” published in The Beast Within 2: Predator & Prey

The Wide Game  

And last but not least, Cinema of Shadows.

The reaction from faithful readers and critics to Cinema has been especially rewarding, and I thank you all for your kind words and support. 

And for the lows?   Well, they were pretty damn low.

Sara J. Larson, a co-founder of Indiana Horror Writers, my harshest critic, my biggest fan, and one of my closest and dearest friends, has been battling breast cancer for over a year.  There was a time, after her chemo and radiation treatments, when it looked like she would be with us for years to come, but in the fall, her condition took a turn for the worse.  She is now in hospice, and her time is short.  For those who have had a friend or family member fight a losing battle with this disease, you know my sadness and my total feeling of helplessness.  She is in my thoughts and my prayers every minute of every day, as is her incredible husband, Bill.  If you have never had a cancer screening, please do so.  And give what you can to cancer research so that, someday, no one will have to go through this. 

Which leads me to 2012…

One of the projects I am working on for the new year is an anthology of Vampire fiction for Naked Snake Press called Vampires Don’t Sparkle!  The stories will be dark, and gritty, with vampires that do not mope or go to prom, and best of all…all proceeds from the sale of the anthology will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Sara J. Larson’s name.  The stories are in, and I am reading and editing like crazy, so I hope to have a table of contents for you soon.  If you are a fan of Horror, or you just want to help make a difference in the war on cancer, please buy or download a copy when it becomes available in the first half of 2012.

On a much lighter note…

Also coming in 2012 is the first novel in my Legacy of the Gods series, Poseidon’s Children.  This epic, four book saga has been a project that I have been toying with off and on since 1989, and I am so happy that Seventh Star Press is giving me the opportunity to be able to finally share it with all of you.  Look for the limited edition hardcover, paperback, and eBook versions of Poseidon’s Children to surface in March.

I also have three new short stories coming out in the next few months.  “The Grove” will appear in Shroud Magazine, Issue #13, “For the River Is Wide and the Gods Are Hungry” will be released as a $0.99 eBook from Seventh Star Press, and “Unknown Caller” will be part of an amazing limited edition anthology from MHB Press called Cadence in Decay.

And last but not least, my next Harmony, Indiana novel, Spook House, will be released in September.

I will also be on the road quite a bit in the next 12 months, with appearances at Days of the Dead, HorrorHound Weekend, Fandom Fest, and Scarefest to name just a few.  Check my schedule throughout the year, as it does change from time to time.

Yes indeed, 2012 promises to be another roller coaster of a year!  Let’s hope there are more ups than downs for us all, and I look forward to meeting many of you in my travels.  As always, thanks to you, my faithful readers.  You are why I do this, and I hope to offer you more thrills and chills over the next 12 months and for many years to come.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

For Immediate Release
November 15, 2011

Seventh Star Press Proudly Announces New Four Book Urban Fantasy Series From Michael West

Seventh Star Press is proud to announce The Legacy of the Gods, an exciting
new urban fantasy series from Michael West that begins with Poseidon’s
Children.  Four titles are scheduled in the series.  The award-winning
horror author’s foray into urban fantasy is his second series with Seventh Star Press, joining his Harmony, Indiana novels in a schedule that will see
two books a year released from the prolific author.

Poseidon’s Children has already received high praise from Maurice
Broaddus, whose series, The Knights of Breton Court, has been making big
waves in the urban fantasy world.  As Maurice commented, “Poseidon’s
Children is some of Michael West’s best writing and storytelling!”

As with all Seventh Star Press novels, the books will feature interior
artwork, with covers and illustrations being done by acclaimed
fantasy/horror artist Matthew Perry.  His artwork appears in other Seventh
Star Press releases from Jackie Gamber, H.David Blalock, Stephen
Shrewsbury, and Stephen Zimmer.

“This has been an epic story that I have been passionate about for a long
time, an idea that would not let go of my brain, it just kept growing, and
growing, demanding that I start writing it all down,” Michael said in
regards to the upcoming series.  “I’ve talked about wanting to do this
series for years, and my faithful readers kept asking me, ‘When are you
going to do that? When is it coming out?’  Well, I’m happy to say that the
answer is now, and I am so pleased that Seventh Star Press has given me
the opportunity to finally make this dark, horrific, fantastical dream a
reality.”

In Poseidon’s Children, Man no longer worships the old gods; forgotten and
forsaken, they have become nothing more than myth and legend. But all that
is about to change.

After the ruins of a vast, ancient civilization are discovered on the
ocean floor, Coast Guard officers find a series of derelict ships drifting
in the current–high-priced yachts and leaking fishing boats, all
ransacked, splattered in blood, their crews missing and presumed dead.

And that’s just the beginning.

Vacationing artist Larry Neuhaus has just witnessed a gruesome shark attack, a young couple torn apart right before his eyes … at least, he thinks it was a shark. And when one of these victims turns out to be the only son of Roger Hays, the most powerful man in the country, things go from bad to worse.

Now, to stop the carnage,Larry and his new-found friends must work
together to unravel a mystery as old as time, and face an enemy as dark as
the ocean depths.

Michael West is a fast rising force in the speculative fiction world. His
work includes novels such as The Wide Game (Graveside Tales), Cinema of
Shadows (Seventh Star Press) and a single author collection, Skull Full of
Kisses (Graveside Tales). He also has an array of short fiction published,
spanning many magazines and anthologies, including appearances in Shroud
Magazine, and the Apex Science Fiction and Horror Digest.

Amanda DeBord will be handling editing duties on Poseidon’s Children and
the other three Legacy of the Gods titles.

“Seventh Star Press is simply amazing to work with,” Michael commented.
“They know good fiction, put out hardcover, paperback, and eBook editions
of the highest quality, and they support their authors and releases more
than any other publisher in the business. I could not be happier to be
working with them on my Harmony, Indiana books and now the Legacy series.”

The projected release date window for Poseidon’s Children is March of
2012, with versions released in limited hardcover, trade paperback, and
several eBook formats, such Kindle, iPad, the Nook, and Sony/Sony
compatible eBook reading devices.

The second novel is slated for spring of 2013, with other titles to follow
on an annual basis.

Updates and additional information can be obtained at the official site
for Seventh Star Press, at www.seventhstarpresss.com, or at the author’s
site, www.bymichaelwest.com

Shroud Magazine has just posted a glowing review of my novel, Cinema of Shadows.  Here’s an excerpt:

“Cinema Of Shadows is a full-throttle, unique journey that takes the concept of the conventional ‘haunting’ to new territory.  Well written, with a suspense that is palpable, West delivers a novel that strikes emotional chords and challenges our imaginations.  (He) proves once again that his voice is rare and quite formidable.” 

Read the full review here!

My short story, “The Grove,” which was to have been part of the  ill-fated Nick Cave anthology, will now appear in Issue #13 of  Shroud Magazine. 

I will post more information as it becomes available.

Here is the Table of Contents for Shroud #11, featuring Michael Knost’s interview with me and my new short story, “Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite.”    Click on the image to enlarge.

Author Michael Knost has interviewed me for his Progknostications column in Shroud Magazine.   In addition to the interview, Issue #11 will feature my new short story “Don’t Let the Bedbugs Bite.”   Artist / editor Danny Evarts has created a nasty little illustration for the tale that makes my skin crawl (see below). 

Look for many a sleepless night when the issue hits newstands in the coming weeks!   

Greetings, faithful readers! 

Another month has come and gone.  Hard to believe that a fourth of the year is already in the history books.  Guess the old saying about “time flies when you’re having fun” is true after all.  March, 2011, was full of  interviews, signings, and work, work, work.    So without further ado, here’s a quick recap / status update…

The month began with not one but two glowing reviews of my debut novel, The Wide Game.  The first was from Sheri Jenkins White at Xomba Horror:

 Stick a fork in 2010.  It’s over.  Done.  Finito.  Finished. 

Despite some personal struggles, 2010 was the best year of my professional career thus far. My first short story collection, Skull Full of Kisses, was released to amazing feedback and reviews. My first novel, The Wide Game, was picked up by Graveside Tales Books for release in 2011. I got to work with the good people at Dark Rider Studios on the book trailers for both. I received invitations to write new stories for various magazines and anthologies. And, most amazing of all, I got to tour the Midwest and meet faithful readers from all over the country.

So where do I go from here?

 Well, 2011 will see the release of the Fell Beasts anthology, featuring my short story “Sandwalkers,” sometime in January. The winter issue of Shroud magazine will feature my short story “Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bite.” And, as previously mentioned, my first novel, The Wide Game, will be released on February 15th. Also coming are stories in The Beast Within 2  anthology and Appalachian Folklore: Dark Tales of Superstition and Old Wives’ Tales.  And that’s just the stuff I’ve already written. New projects for the new year include work on my first Sci-fi / Horror novel, Echoes of Aurora, continued work on my epic Urban Fantasy series, The Legacy of the Gods, and a few new short tales, including a zombie Western. And, of course, I will be out on tour in support of all my work. Look for me at Horror Hound Weekend, Mo*Con, Fandomfest, Context, and Scarefest, just to name a few (check the Schedule page for all the details as they become available).

 So thanks to you, all my faithful readers, for your kind words and encouragement in the past, and for your continued support in 2011 and beyond.  Happy New Year!  May the future be a bright one for us all!

You can now place your order for Shroud Magazine: Volume Three Issues 9-12 by clicking here.  Issue 9 has a review of my short fiction collection, Skull Full of Kisses, and the January issue…well, let’s just say faithful readers will want the January issue.