I'm publishing Ellie Garratt's Passing Time Book tour spot one day early because she lives in the UK, and I live in the U.S. and it just will work out better for cross communication between our two blogs. This post will remain up for Thursday the 14th as well. Now to turn my blog over to Ellie Garratt whose byline on her blog states that she is an author of both speculative fiction and horror!
One of the more common questions I’ve been asked about Passing Time is, Why dark fiction?
When I decided in early autumn of 2012 to put together two anthologies of my previously published and unpublished short stories, I put them into two groups: science fiction and horror. What I found after I’d filed them came as quite a shock to me – horror stories outnumbered science fiction by 2:1. I’d always considered myself as more of a sci-fi writer. After all, I’ve written the first draft of a science fiction novel. Yet here was proof that when it comes to short stories, I’m really a horror writer. So, it seemed logical to make my first collection dark fiction.
Another often asked question is: "How dark is it?"
I think the answer to that question depends on what you as the reader consider "dark" to be. The nine stories that make up Passing Time feature death, cloning, a devil, vampires, zombies, a serial killer, an undertakers, and the end of truth. If these sound like the kind of fiction you’d enjoy reading then I would say you’ll like Passing Time. Hell. I hope you’ll love it. But if any of that makes you squeamish, you may need to reconsider. Having said all of that, I don’t think my stories feature overly gratuitous violence. Where violence appears or is referred to, it is done so to fit the context of the story. Please don’t go away with the impression that Passing Time is one big bloodfest from beginning to end. It really isn’t.
So, have any of my stories whet your appetite? Is there any type of dark fiction you would consider too dark to read?
Book Blurb: Nine dark fiction stories that may just give you nightmares.
Amazon for $2.99
Amazon.co.uk for £2.05
Goodreads
About The Author
A life-long addiction to reading science fiction and horror, meant writing was the logical outlet for Ellie Garratt’s passions. She is a reader, writer, blogger, Trekkie, and would happily die to be an extra in The Walking Dead. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and online. Passing Time is her first eBook collection and contains nine previously published stories. Her science fiction collection Taking Time will be published later in the year.
Here are some author links for you to explore:
a Rafflecopter giveaway 
Why Dark Fiction?
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| All the blue seems to lend itself to a macabre atmosphere, kind of like a film still that has been overexposed for bleakness and despair. |
When I decided in early autumn of 2012 to put together two anthologies of my previously published and unpublished short stories, I put them into two groups: science fiction and horror. What I found after I’d filed them came as quite a shock to me – horror stories outnumbered science fiction by 2:1. I’d always considered myself as more of a sci-fi writer. After all, I’ve written the first draft of a science fiction novel. Yet here was proof that when it comes to short stories, I’m really a horror writer. So, it seemed logical to make my first collection dark fiction.
Another often asked question is: "How dark is it?"
I think the answer to that question depends on what you as the reader consider "dark" to be. The nine stories that make up Passing Time feature death, cloning, a devil, vampires, zombies, a serial killer, an undertakers, and the end of truth. If these sound like the kind of fiction you’d enjoy reading then I would say you’ll like Passing Time. Hell. I hope you’ll love it. But if any of that makes you squeamish, you may need to reconsider. Having said all of that, I don’t think my stories feature overly gratuitous violence. Where violence appears or is referred to, it is done so to fit the context of the story. Please don’t go away with the impression that Passing Time is one big bloodfest from beginning to end. It really isn’t.
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| This is a photo still from the remake of "The Evil Dead" which I (Michael) am looking forward to. I put it here because maybe what Ellie is talking about is that her book, Passing Time won't "necessarily" feature nasty evil zombie people like this that WANT TO EAT YOUR FACE!!! But then again, it just might. I have no idea since I haven't read it. I am intrigued though. Consider appetite "whetted." |
- A man lives to regret "Passing Time."
- A father will do anything to save his son in "Expiration Date."
- An author finds out her worst nightmare is back in "The Devil’s Song."
- A woman gets more than the claim fee when she takes out vampire insurance in "Luna Black."
- In "Dining in Hell," the Death Valley Diner becomes the wrong place to stop.
- A serial killer wants to add another file to his collection in "The Vegas Screamer."
- In "Eating Mr. Bone," an undertaker could meet an unfortunate end.
- A con man meets his first ghost in "Land of the Free."
- And will truth finally be set free in "The Letter?"
Amazon for $2.99
Amazon.co.uk for £2.05
Goodreads
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| Author Ellie Garratt showing that astronauts can totally be cover girls. |
About The Author
A life-long addiction to reading science fiction and horror, meant writing was the logical outlet for Ellie Garratt’s passions. She is a reader, writer, blogger, Trekkie, and would happily die to be an extra in The Walking Dead. Her short stories have been published in anthologies and online. Passing Time is her first eBook collection and contains nine previously published stories. Her science fiction collection Taking Time will be published later in the year.
Here are some author links for you to explore:
So are any of you horror fanatics out there going to buy Ellie's book? The price on it seems like quite a steal. Get it while it's hot! And don't forget to enter the giveaway.
Sometimes it depends on the intensity of the dark stuff. I especially don't like dark when helpless women and/or children are the victims. All they do is cry and suffer while there is a lot of frustration in trying to find them before the serial killer finally kills them.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I like the ideas in Ellie's book. Especially Expiration Date and I can't help but wondering what vampire insurance is all about. Will check out her book.
Already have her book!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty much down for whatever. I'm not easily offended.
ReplyDeleteAwesome post, guys! What's too dark for me? I don't so much mind the dark part, so long as it doesn't venture into the ridiculous. Suspension of disbelieve and all, right? :)
ReplyDeleteNot much of a problem with dark fiction. I have got to say I love the cover of Ellie's book
ReplyDeleteI love dark fiction. But, being rather squeamish, I've never read horror. The stories sound very interesting though.
ReplyDeleteThank you again for hosting me, Michael. I can't wait to read everyone's thoughts, and I'm glad I whetted your appetite!
ReplyDeleteCindy - I'm the same. Violence against children is a no-no.
ReplyDeleteAlex - thank you!
Mathew - you'll enjoy it then!
David - I'm with you on the ridiculous angle. Thankfully, I've not said that often about any fiction I've read.
Farawayeyes - thank you!
Nancy - I think you'd like some of them, but maybe not the real dark ones.
Oh, now I see why this didn't pop up on my Blogger reader thingy today, because you already posted it on Sunday. Stupid blogger.
ReplyDelete@Cindy: You will have to let me know what you think of it.
ReplyDelete@Alex: :)
@Matt: That's why I like you.
@DPK: Yes, sir.
@Faraway: Her cover is wesomesauce.
@Nancy: I thought your book was pretty dark. That's why I liked it so much.
@Ellie: You're welcome. I'm sorry I was a space cadet and posted it early on Sunday. But I got it taken down quick but not before I got a few messages saying "what happened to the post?!"
@P.T.: Yeah I messed up. Sorry.
It's strange but I'm not and have never been a fan of horror in movies, even though I used to love reading horror stories and dark fiction when I was younger. The zombie I'm-gonna-eat-your-face-off pic you posted btw, is totally freaking me out. But books are different and I think it's because I can tone things down in my mind if I want. Passing Time is a collection of short dark fiction stories that I think I'd really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteI will read dark fiction, just never right before bed. I save the fluffy stuff for that. LOL
ReplyDeleteBooks looks awesome!
Woot for Ellie!
ReplyDeleteI like a certain amount of dark, but stuff like Hannibal Lecter and Zombies are too icky for me. I tend to stay away from anything to do with serial killers and zombies. Sometimes I think Game of Thrones is too dark. I don't think anything happy happens to anyone in that series.
Congrats on your short story collection, Ellie! It sounds fabulous!
ReplyDeleteSo far, I haven't encountered a book that I thought was too dark, although I did stop reading The Lovely Bones because it made me too sad.
Great post. There is nothing too dark I won't read. In fact, it intrigues me! Dark isn't all about the gore or shock either.
ReplyDeleteEllie rocks. I''m so excited for her.
ReplyDeleteIf the horror is too realistic, it's too dark for me. If there are supernatural elements in it, then I'm good with anything. Great post.
ReplyDeleteThe stories in Ellie's book sound very intriguing -- as for darkness, I sometimes really like them, but if a story is gory I can't handle it. Funny thing is, I've read some dark horror books I enjoy, whereas the darkest story I think I ever read was a "literary" one in the New Yorker by Annie Proulx. It was set in pioneer Wyoming and was so depressing I had trouble sleeping that night. Zombies and vampires would have been lighter fare.
ReplyDeleteI really like a dark, creepy vibe to a story, so I'm sure I'll love Passing Time. I'm looking so forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about writing is that there are so many genres to explore. :)
Best,
Alexandra~
I love dark fiction, and Ellie's short stories sound exactly like my type of reading..:) Huge congrats Ellie on the book.
ReplyDeletegoodly done, ellie :)
ReplyDeleteno, there's no such thing as 'too dark fiction' in my vocabulary... the darker the better!
I've done everything I can to enter this giveaway, as it totally sounds like my kinda read! :-)
ReplyDeletePS: I'm also really looking forward to the Evil Dead remake (even though I'm so sick of remakes I could puke split pea soup).
ReplyDelete