Latest Books Horror Library, Volume 8 by Eric J. Guignard

The HORROR LIBRARY anthologies are internationally praised as a groundbreaking source of contemporary horror short fiction stories—relevant to the moment and stunning in impact—from leading authors of the macabre and darkly imaginative.

Filled with Fears and Fantasy. Death and Dark Dreams. Monsters and Mayhem. Literary Vision and Wonder. Each volume of the HORROR LIBRARY series is packed with heart-pounding thrills and creepy contemplations as to what truly lurks among the shadows of the world(s) we live in.

Containing 31 all-original stories, read Volume 8 in this ongoing anthology series, and then continue with the other volumes.

Shamble no longer through the banal humdrum of normalcy, but ENTER THE HORROR LIBRARY!

Included within Volume 8:

– In “Saving the World,” a family feeds their captive devil the sorrows of neighbors.

– In “We Can’t Let Go,” a welfare check by a child services worker proves that not all in life is as expected.

– In “Only the Stones Will Hear You Scream,” a man meets his nightmares while caving through narrow underground passages.

– …and more!

– Also including a special guest-artist’s gallery of Jana Heidersdorf!

Eric J. Guignard
© Jeannette Guignard

Eric J. Guignard recently spent some time with The Big Thrill discussing his latest anthology, HORROR LIBRARY.

Can you pinpoint a moment or incident that sparked the idea for this book?

I took over the HORROR LIBRARY anthology series from previous editors and publishers. This series of unthemed horror anthologies was begun in 2006 by a group of authors who’d been collaborating in an online forum called Zoetrope Virtual Studio (AKA: Zoetrope All-Story Workshop), that had been launched in 1997 by none other than the Godfather of films, Francis Ford Coppola. The H.L. series editor at that time rounded up their stories and published Horror Library, Volume 1. Thereafter, the series moved to an “open call” model, of selecting exemplary stories from general submissions, of which such process continues today (last antho, the submissions I received numbered over 1,200!).

I published one of my own earliest stories in Volume 5 (also reprinted in the “Best Of” Volumes 1–5), when I was just starting fiction writing, so the series has held a dear place in my heart ever since. The series editor at that time then retired, and because I’d started editing other anthologies, I was asked to take over editing for Volume 6. The series rights were sold to a different publisher, Patrick Beltran with Cutting Block Books (under Cutting Block Press). Unfortunately, he passed away from cancer in 2020. Before his passing, he sold the series and rights to me, under Dark Moon Books, in order to continue the Horror Library volumes, which I have done!

A novel is such a major undertaking; there’s the writing of it, of course, then you’re spending months and months revising, polishing, and then promoting it. How did you know this was the book you wanted to spend the next couple of years on?

I average spending about 12 months on each anthology that I assemble, and I love doing it!

In addition to a great read, what do you hope readers will take away from this story?

I hope readers will take away that mixed-genre works of dark fantasy, horror, and thriller, can be rich in literary quality while also being fun and entertaining.

Were there any particular books, movies, or songs that were knocking around in your head while you were writing this one?

My constant inspirations are influences such as Twilight Zone, Jack London, Stephen King, and vigilante-style comic books, and because of that I tend to write and publish others with the same sort of blended literary and thriller audience in mind.

Some authors I currently adore and consider influences and inspirations include Joe R. Lansdale, Cormac McCarthy, George Orwell, Stephen Graham Jones, Jeffrey Ford, Lisa Morton, Kaaron Warren, Dennis Lehane, Seanan McGuire, Lauren Beukes, Jack Kerouac, Mark Bowden, O. Henry, James Ellroy, Neil Gaiman, Steve Rasnic Tem, Gemma Files, John Steinbeck, Weston Ochse, and many, many others…

What can you share about what you’re working on next?

Through my press, Dark Moon Books, I’m publishing the a series of author primers created to champion modern masters of the dark and macabre, titled: Exploring Dark Short Fiction (Vol. 1: Steve Rasnic Tem; Vol. II: Kaaron Warren; Vol. III: Nisi Shawl; Vol. IV: Jeffrey Ford; Vol. V: Han Song; Vol. VI: Ramsey Campbell, etc.).

And through SourceBooks I’m curating a new series of books with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger titled, The Horror Writers Association Presents: Haunted Library of Horror Classics, reissuing classic novels with new introductions and other ancillary material.

And I’m continuing editing and publishing the afore-mentioned series, +HORROR LIBRARY+, which promotes unthemed horror short stories.

I also enjoy writing short stories, and I’m hoping to have my second collection in publication next year. I’m in process of writing three novels, of which I’m jumping back and forth between! One is a paranormal detective series, one a literary historical horror, and one a cosmic slipstream time-travel.

Eric J. Guignard is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press, Dark Moon Books. He’s twice won the Bram Stoker Award, won the Shirley Jackson Award, and been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and International Thriller Writers Award.
He has over one hundred stories and non-fiction author credits appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric’s published multiple fiction anthologies, including his most recent, Professor Charlatan Bardot’s Travel Anthology To The Most (Fictional) Haunted Buildings In The Weird, Wild World and A World Of Horror, each a showcase of international horror short fiction.

His latest books are Last Case At A Baggage Auction and the short story collection That Which Grows Wild: 16 Tales Of Dark Fiction (Cemetery Dance).

Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com, his blog: ericjguignard.blogspot.com, or Twitter: @ericjguignard.