Books & Stories

 

ALEXANDER’S SONG

A novel of dark suspense

Coming Sept. 30, 2022: A brand new edition of this dark suspense classic from Cemetery Dance Publications. Available in e-book and for the first time ever in trade paperback, featuring a stunning cover by the legendary Jill Bauman!

Planning a series of articles on the life of a literary master, Andy Gillespie visits the writer’s hometown, looking for clues to his past. What he discovers is a decades-old story of mystery, madness and murder — a chain of darkness that began more than sixty years earlier and is not finished yet.

Alexander’s Song takes you deep into a world where nothing is what it seems, where no one can be trusted, and where the mystery deepens at every turn. It is a novel to get lost in, to savor, and to celebrate.

“This is it — a rich, complex, Straubian labyrinth of a novel, where the mysteries are layered and the histories are dark. Olson is superb, and his characters — writers and booklovers themselves — serve to elevate this unsettling tale to lofty, literary heights. I loved every word of it.” – Ronald Malfi, author of Come with Me

 

Pre-order the new edition here: ALEXANDER’S SONG

THE NIGHT PROPHETS

A 1980s Horror Classic

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They come to Universal Ministries by the thousands, drawn by that simple promise and by the chance to change the world. They come to be near their personal heroes – Reverend Steve, Reverend Bob, and the man they worship most of all, the powerful Reverend Arthur Bach.

But Curt Potter comes to Universal for a different reason, searching, hoping to understand his past. Alone among the multitudes, he begins to see the other side of Universal, the well-hidden things no one else sees, the secret that lives in the heart of the church, the darkness behind the light. Curt must overcome his own doubts and the skepticism of others, and with time running short, must somehow find the strength to stand against unspeakable evil and find his own personal salvation.

Originally published in 1989, The Night Prophets by Paul F. Olson has been resurrected for a new generation of readers. The current edition restores all the material that was cut and altered for the first publication, and is the author’s preferred edition of the novel.

“A fun, layered read.” – Michael R. Collings – Hellnotes

“If you are looking for an action packed, blood soaked, character driven tale that just happens to be a vampire story, you need look no further than The Night Prophets. Enjoyed every minute of it.” – Literary Mayhem

Available for Kindle, Kobo, and Nook.

And now available as an unabridged audiobook, read by Scott MacDonald.

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For those curious about the origins of the novel or how it came to be revised and restored back to its original form, my 2013 essay “Taking Communion With The Night Prophets” is now available to read here.


WHISPERED ECHOES

Tales by Paul F. Olson

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An ancient voice speaks from the depths of a long-forgotten cave…

As a violent storm rages overhead, the scratching sounds begin in the cellar below…

A man inherits the family talent, but what price does that legacy demand…?

A return to the family homestead brings overwhelming memories, but the darkest memory of all still waits in the ravine out back…

An unassuming tourist quietly strolls through town, leaving devastation in his wake…

A late-night call from an abandoned camp brings a frightened cop face-to-face with his darkest fears…

A wild joyride ends with a surprise reunion and an encounter with the impossible…

A man searches for answers at an abandoned lighthouse and uncovers an unspeakable past…

Listen closely. You can hear them. The whispered echoes of your darkest fears. In this stunning collection, Paul F. Olson delves into the quiet heart of terror. Featuring eleven long out-of-print tales from the ’80s and ’90s, and the World Fantasy Award-nominated “Bloodybones,” a brand new 36,000 word novella of loss, longing, and chilling horror. With a foreword by Chet Williamson, and an introduction by the author, Whispered Echoes abounds with subtle shivers that linger long after the last page is turned.

“Nowhere is Paul Olson’s narrative power, compelling voice, and unique sense of place more evident than in this wonderful, essential collection of hair-raising stories. Whispered Echoes is nothing short of a feast for those of us who appreciate old school horror with a nefarious modern twist, and with it, I hope Paul Olson gets every bit of the acclaim he so richly deserves.” – Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Turtle Boy, Kin, and Sour Candy

Whispered Echoes is one of those rare collections I read cover-to-cover without a break. Written with the poise and elegance of a long-time professional, but with a depth of heart that transcends the prose, Paul F. Olson’s stories are packed with mystery, violence and humanity. Nobody has done small-town fear like this since Bradbury. Hands-down one of the finest collections I’ve read in the last decade.” – Philip Fracassi, author of Behold the Void

“Paul F. Olson’s fiction is by equal turns touching, chilling, weird, and just plain fun. Whispered Echoes reminds us what horror fiction should and can be: flat-out entertaining and soulful. Adding in Olson’s concluding novella “Bloodybones” – perhaps one of the finest things I’ve ever read – and you’ve got one of the most satisfying horror/weird collections around.” – Kevin Lucia, author of The Clifton Heights Saga

Available as a signed, numbered, limited edition hardcover from Cemetery Dance!

Or in paperback and e-book from Crystal Lake Publishing!

And now available in audio at Audible.com, Amazon, and iTunes!

 

BETTER WEIRD

A Tribute to David B. Silva

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Better weird than plastic …

For a generation of horror fans, those four words signaled a momentous occasion: the arrival of a new issue of David B. Silva’s seminal publication, The Horror Show. For nine years in the 1980s, Dave and his magazine published some of the biggest names in the genre and introduced the world to countless others, nurturing dozens of careers along the road from first publication to major success. A man of limitless talent, Dave also earned a reputation as one of the field’s finest writers, producing a handful of brilliant novels and a vast collection of award-winning stories.

Following Dave’s untimely death in 2013, authors from around the world of horror came forward to honor his memory. Those who grew up reading his immortal magazine, those who learned from his kind and careful tutelage, those who admired the editor, the writer, the man – they are all here, gathered in the pages of this special anthology. Kealan Patrick Burke, Brian Hodge, Joe R. Lansdale, Robert R. McCammon, Bentley Little, Elizabeth Massie, Brian Keene, J.F. Gonzalez, Steve Rasnic Tem, Billie Sue Mosiman, Kathryn Ptacek, Thomas F. Monteleone, Gary Raisor, Yvonne Navarro, Robert Swartwood, G. Wayne Miller, and Paul F. Olson. With brand new tales of terror, lovingly-chosen classics, and heartfelt tributes, these writers have come to raise a chill, bring a tear, and remind you of the truth in Dave’s immortal words: It’s always Better Weird …

Note: This anthology includes an introduction by Paul F. Olson and a brand new Olson story, “When the Heart Sings,” set in Dave Silva’s fictional universe of Kingston Mills!

To purchase a copy, visit Cemetery Dance!

 

WHEN THE HEART SINGS

Free Short Story

My short story “When the Heart Sings” was originally published in the anthology Better Weird: A Tribute to David B. Silva. It is now available to read here.