Happy New Year

Standard manuscript format

The Alchemy Press requests that submissions are sent using standard manuscipt formatting. Read the details here.

Season's greetings!

Opening the windows...

A reminder to all you writers looking for a home for your stories: the submission periods for the 2013 Alchemy Press anthologies -- Astrologica, Pulp Heroes 2 and Urban Mythic opens on 1st January and remain open until the end of March 2013. Now is the time to polish off your manuscripts and getting them ready to send them in to your hard-working editors.

We had hoped to secure additional funding in order to pay semi-pro rates for your stories. But alas, the people holding the cheque book didn't think that a series of fantasy anthologies was serious enough. What do they know? Therefore we will only be paying a nominal fee again (as we did this year for Ancient Wonders and Pulp Heroes 1). Check the above links for details.

Sex, Lies & Family Ties -- review

Many thanks to Barry Lillie for allowing us to reproduce his review from Goodreads:

"A dark and gritty tale that focuses upon a handful of days in the life of a teenager in the 1970s and how those few days bring with them change and closure. Well written, compelling and deliciously dark. The sense of betrayal at the end was as sharp as a harridan's tongue. I'd recommend this book even to those not old enough to remember the era as there's very little to alienate a younger reader. The setting may be the '70s but the story and content is still pertinent to society and the coming of age today."

Sex, Lies & Family Ties reviewed

An excellent review of Sex, Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham has been posted on Good reads.

Alchemy Novellas

We've now posted the submission guidelines on the Alchemy Press blog. Click here.

Announcing Alchemy Novellas

The Alchemy Press intends to start a new line, Alchemy Novellas. In the first instance, we will publish four novellas a year as eBooks. Then the novellas will be collected together and published as a print book – so readers have the best of both worlds.

Our proposed publication schedule for the eBooks is February, May, August and November. 

We are looking for original, unpublished novellas that touch on almost all areas of Fantasy and Horror. There will be a payment for both eBook and print publication. If you are interested and want to learn more please send a query email to alchemypress [@] gmail.com.

Keep an eye on this blog and our Facebook site for status updates.

Sex, Lies and the Kindle

Sex, Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham is now available for your Kindle via Amazon UK and Amazon USA.

Amazon shows the estimated page size as 14 pages. It's not; it's in the region of 214. Amazon is looking into it.

Sex and Lies reviewed

Sex, Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham has received a five star review on Amazon.

BFS Award

Rumours of the Marvellous didn't win the BFS Best Collection Award, announced at the end of September. That honour went to the equally excellent Everyone's Just So, So Special by Robert Shearman. Well done Rob.

A Hot Time in the Old Town...

“Ty Oleson stepped out onto his porch, enjoying the bite of a desert winter. He searched his pants for a pipe, smiling just for the sheer hell of it. It sure was a glorious sunset: brilliant orange just on the horizon, shading to pink, then purple up into the higher sky. Nights like this, he reckoned it was easy to see why so many artsy folks came to Arizona. It was the light, they said – and most days he never could understand what was so special about it. But nights like this…

The flash was unexpected. Like summer lightning, but silent and a hell of a lot brighter. It came from towards the horizon – for a moment washing out all the other colours, leaving Ty blinking away a purple after-image. He lit his pipe, filling the cold evening air with deep fragrant smoke, giving himself time to think.

He hadn’t seen anything like that since the Great War: when the Krauts would waste days shelling the Allies’ trenches; turning the nights into endless, deafening, lurid flashes of high explosive. And even then, he’d seen nothing to compare; nothing so bright…

He stepped off the porch, favouring his left leg – a souvenir of the war. There were no more flashes; the night darkened as the orange slowly dimmed. Gradually the stars came out.

Ty waited a half hour or so, until it was full night and the thin scrape of moon didn’t offer up enough light to see as far as the first fence. Eventually he shrugged. Whatever it was, clearly it wasn’t going to happen again; and it was getting too cold to just sand around. He turned and began limping back to his shack.”

From “There’ll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”. Read more in the Kindle edition of Mike Chinn’s Paladin Mandates.

Rumours reviewed

Two recent reviews of Rumours of the Marvellous have appeared. Thank you to the two men with discerning taste:

“Rumours is a beautifully produced book … and will no doubt reach out to the collector demographic, but for those of us who worship content … its core appeal lies in the author’s undoubted ability to tell a story and to tell it well.” – Peter Tennant, Black Static #30, 2012

"Rumours of the Marvellous is a superb collection of short stories by Peter Atkins that fall in the borderland between SF, fantasy, horror and the supernatural." – David V Barrett, Fortean Times, November 2012

Sex, Lies & Family Ties -- extract

Sex, Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham is available as print book and eBook editions, and can be bought from a number of online dealers (click here for a list).

In the meantime, you can read the first 20 pages here.

The Alchemy Launch...

Many thanks to Heide Goody for the photograph -- the official launch, Saturday at FantasyCon, of The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders and The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes. Many thanks to everyone who came along.

We also announced three new anthologies for 2013 -- details to follow.

BFS Awards

The 2012 British Fantasy Awards are announced on Sunday afternoon, following the banquet. We here have our fingers crossed for Peter Atkins' Rumours of the Marvellous, up for the Best Collection Award.

FantasyCon launch

The FantasyCon weekend is almost upon us. Don't forget, we give The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders and The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes its official launch:

When: 10.00 am, Saturday

Where: The Rouge Bar

Come along and say hello!

OOP and low stock

The Paladin Mandates by Mike Chinn is now out of print.

I had also declared Shadows of Light and Dark, by Jo Fletcher, as OOP, but half-a-dozen copies have turned up (found mixed in with some other titles). Beneath the Ground by Joel Lane is now close to being sold out -- about a dozen copies remain in stock. If you are interested in either of these books, act now. Email us at alchemypress[at]gmail.com for details.

Birmingham Book Fair

Thank you to everyone who visited the Alchemy Press table at last Sunday's Birmingham Independent Book Fair -- and a bigger thanks to those who bought one of our books. The day was a great success: met up with old friends and make new contacts. Now we are trying to catch up with outstanding issues. The above photo shows our table alongside that for Snow Books.

Buying Alchemy Press books

The latest Alchemy Press books are available via several online dealers, including Amazon UK and US, Barnes and Noble and The Book Depository.

To buy these books visit the relevant pages:

The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders

The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes

Sex, Lies and Family Ties

Ancient Wonders: links to dealers

Contributor copies of The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders, edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber, will be mailed out in the next few weeks. Some copies will be available this Sunday at the Birmingham Book Fair. Otherwise, the official launch is at FantasyCon at the end of September. But if you live in the USA and you wish to purchase the book you can do so via Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.

Sex, Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham is already available via Amazon. But come and see us on 9th September at the Birmingham Independent Book Fair and buy a copy directly from the publisher.

Where the Bodies are Buried

Kim Newman's Where the Bodies are Buried is still available. You can order directly from The Alchemy Press, here, or via Amazon.co.uk. Amazon says it is out of stock -- it never had stock -- but lists The Alchemy Press as a supplier.

Only £14.00 plus p&p. Can't be bad.

FantasyCon book launch

To remind you, The Alchemy Press is launching two new titles at FantasyCon 2012.

Independent Book Fair

The Birmingham Independent Book Fair is scheduled for 9 September, from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.:

“Browse, buy and discover new books, many of which are not available on the high street.

This day-long event will feature independent publishers from the West Midlands and beyond, offering you the chance to buy books directly from the publishers, who will be on hand to answer questions and introduce you to new writing. From poetry pamphlets to prose fiction, graphic novels to science fiction and fantasy, a wide range of forms and genres will be represented. The fair is free and all are welcome!”

Rooms 3 & 4, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB

The Alchemy Press will be there selling copies of Rumours of the Marvellous, Beneath the Ground, Sex, Lies and Family Ties, Swords Against the Millennium… and we hope to have preview copies of The Alchemy Press Books of Pulp Heroes and Ancient Wonders.

If you are in the area, come along and say hello.

Alchemy Press: Official Book Launch

The Alchemy Press launches two new anthologies at FantasyCon on Saturday 29 September, at 10.00 a.m. The convention, a highpoint in the fantasy and horror fan’s calendar, once more returns to the south coast city of Brighton.

Join us, the editors and some of the contributors, to welcome these two new, brilliant anthologies: The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders and The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes.

The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders, edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber:

“When we think of a wonder, our minds go most often to the great buildings of the past – the pyramids, the Taj Mahal, Stonehenge – but the human mind can make almost anything wondrous. We walk with wonders every day, through the power of curiosity and imagination and our human tendency to make stories about what we fear, what we desire, what we wish to understand. This collection offers new glimpses into the wonder we all feel.” – Kari Sperring

So then, discover standing stones, burial mounds, ruined castles or sunken cities: the ancient sites that litter our landscapes; the ancient wonders that possess a mysterious appeal that cannot be denied.

With stories by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Aliette de Bodard, Peter Crowther, Anne Nicholls, Adrian Cole, Pauline E Dungate, Bryn Fortey, William Meikle, John Howard, James Brogden, Shannon Connor Winward, Misha Herwin, Lynn M Cochrane and Selina Lock.

The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes edited by Mike Chinn:

In the tradition of The Shadow, The Bat, Doc Savage, The Spider; Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Detective Agency; Dusty Ayers & His Battle Birds; Sheena and K-Zar. Hard-boiled detectives, sinister vigilantes, bizarre villains – the staple of the Pulp tradition. Two-fisted heroes – and heroines – fighting for right and justice in the midnight city, foetid jungles or exotic, far-flung lands. And deranged villains for whom the world is never enough. 

Here, seventeen writers dive headlong into the world of the pulp fiction, to tell us tall tales of daring do, of heroes, heroines and their villains.

With stories by Mike Resnick, Peter Atkins, Peter Crowther, Adrian Cole, William Meikle, Joel Lane, Amber L Husbands, Milo James Fowler, Anne Nicholls, Robert William Iveniuk, Bracken N MacLeod, Chris Iovenko, Joshua Wolf, James Hartley, Ian Gregory, Michael Haynes and Allen Ashley.

Special FantasyCon price: £8.00 each (cover price £10.00) or buy both for £15.00.

Doors to Elsewhere

Coming soon: Doors to Elsewhere by Mike Barrett

Upcoming Book Fair

On Sunday 9th September, Writing West Midlands is holding an Independent Publishers’ Book Fair in Birmingham as part of ArtsFest 2012. They say:

 “Browse, buy and discover new books, many of which are not available on the high street. This day-long event will feature independent publishers from the West Midlands and beyond, offering you the chance to buy books directly from the publishers, who will be on hand to answer questions and introduce you to new writing. From poetry pamphlets to prose fiction, graphic novels to science fiction and fantasy, a wide range of forms and genres will be represented. The fair is free and all are welcome!”

The venue is Rooms 3 & 4, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB, from 11.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.

The Alchemy Press will be there with a range of titles, including Rumours of the Marvellous, Where the Bodies are Buried, Beneath the Ground, Sex, Lies & Family Ties and Swords Against the Millennium. We also hope to have pre-view copies of The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes and The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders. 

Ancient Wonders: ToC

We can now reveal the contents for The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders, edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber:

Kari Sperring – Introduction

Adrian Tchaikovsky – Bones 
James Brogden – If Street
Shannon Connor Winward - Passage  
Pauline E. Dungate – One Man’s Folly
Anne Nicholls - Dragonsbridge 
Peter Crowther – Gandalph Cohen and the Land at the End of the Working Day 
Misha Herwin – The Satan Stones 
Lynn M. Cochrane – Ringfenced
Bryn Fortey – Ithica or Bust 
Adrian Cole – The Sound of Distant Gunfire
William Meikle – The Cauldron of Camulos
John Howard – Time and the City
Selina Lock – The Great and Powerful 
Aliette de Bodard - Ys

Ancient Wonders: get your submissions in now

A gentle reminder: the submission period for The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders is closing soon -- on the 30th June. Better finish off your stories pronto if you want to be in with a chance of being included in this anthology. I've seen some of the stories so far -- some are very impressive.

Sex Lies & Family Ties

Sex Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham is now available for sale via the Alchemy Press Smashwords page -- a mere $4.99.

Pulp Heroes: ToC announced

Editor Mike Chinn has now announced the ToC for The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes. Now we're into the production stage. All good fun (and exacting work).

Mike Resnick -- Origins
Robert William Iveniuk -- House Name
Anne Nicholls -- Eyes of Day, Eyes of Night
William Meikle -- Ripples in the Ether
Chris Iovenko -- The Perfect Murder
Bracken N MacLeod -- Ivy's Secret Origin
Joshua Wolf -- Crossing the Line
James Hartley -- Jean Marie
Ian Gregory -- Currier Dread and the Hair of Destruction
Amber L Husbands -- The Going Rate
Michael Haynes -- No Way but the Hard Way
Adrian Cole -- The Vogue Prince
Joel Lane -- Upon a Granite Wind
Milo James Fowler -- The Last Laugh
Allen Ashley -- In the Margins
Peter Crowther -- Heroes and Villains
Peter Atkins -- The Return of Boy Justice

Sex, Lies and Family Ties

The Alchemy Press has obtained the rights to Sex, Lies and Family Ties by Sarah J Graham. This is a little out of our usual arena -- but it is a riveting good read of a teenager coming to terms with her family life, and the lies therein. Coming soon.

The cover art is by the talented Steve Upham (see Screaming Dreams Press for more information about Steve).

Pulp Heroes: cover artwork

Here is the cover for The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes, edited by Mike Chinn. The artwork is by Bob Covington.

Ancient Wonders: cover artwork

Here is the cover for The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber. Cover art is (c) Dominic Harman. And don't forget: less than a month to get your submissions in!

Ancient Wonders: reminder

There is just one month remaining in which to write (or finish writing) your stories for The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders. There are so many possibilities to chose from, from burial mounds to pyramids to lost artefacts... Submission details can be found here.

Email problems

Mike Chinn (editor of Pulp Heroes) is experiencing problems with his email. Until they are fixed please send manuscripts, etc, via alchemypress@gmail.com

The British Fantasy Awards

Some good news for Peter Atkins and The Alchemy Press.

Rumours of the Marvellous by Peter Atkins has been short-listed for the 2012 British Fantasy Awards in the Best Collection category. It is up against some stiff competition:

Mrs Midnight by Reggie Oliver

Everyone's Just So So Special by Robert Shearman and

A Glass of Shadow by Liz Williams.

The winner will be decided by a jury and announced at FantasyCon 2012, once again held in sunny Brighton in September.

Taboo words

We’ve received a few enquiries about taboo or swear words: does the Alchemy Press allow the use of them? The short answer is “Yes”. We won’t list all the taboo words here – we seen them all and we’re not easily shocked. Our advice: use such words judiciously and not gratuitously. Most often swear words are found in speech and by extension in stories written in the first person.

Taboo words and phrases may also be of racial or religious nature. In today’s politically-correct environment be sensitive to their use.

No one has yet asked us about the level of violence we allow in Alchemy Press books. Again, when used in context, we have no issue with violent stories. But we do shy away from stories that use excessive violence for its own end, especially those that may be considered misogynistic.  

The final decision whether or not to use the submission is down to the quality of the writing and is not based on the number of “fucks” in the manuscript.

Selected for Best New Horror

Peter Atkins has let slip that his story "Dancing Like We're Dump" from Rumours of the Marvellous has been selected for the upcoming Year's Best New Horror volume 23, edited by Stephen Jones. Great news for Pete and The Alchemy Press.

Standard manuscript formatting

“What is ‘standard manuscript format’?” I’ve heard that question many times at writers’ workshops and groups. I suspect that there are several answers, depending on whom you ask. Some of the “rules” you’ll hear undoubtedly relate to the more specific requirements but there are some basic ones that are applicable across the board. For submissions to The Alchemy Press these are probably sufficient. To remind you:

• Double-spaced text
• A standard, easy-to-read font, such as Times New Roman or Arial
• A 12-point typeface
• Indent the first line of new paragraphs (although the first line of the first paragraph of new sections or chapters may be left without the indent). Many publications, including The Alchemy Press, ask you not to use the tab or space bars when making indents – use the ruler guide instead
• Left justified only
• No extra line between paragraphs, but is acceptable between section breaks and chapters
• Indicate section breaks and chapters with *** or similar (or the chapter title)
• Do not use an extra space between sentences
• Margins of 1.0-1.5 inches (2.5-3.0 cm) all round
• Use italics for titles of films, books, etc (some publications may ask for these to be underlined)
• Include the author’s contact details (address, email) on the first page (repeating this information on the final page may be useful, especially on longer manuscripts)
• Read the guidelines: if they state a maximum story length up to 5,000 words do not send a submission of 8,000 words without checking beforehand. And if there is a theme and/or other requirements, ensure your submission meets them

Specific Alchemy Press submission requirements: 

• Send the document as a Word or RTF attachment for email submissions; do not paste the story in the body of the email
• The email subject line must include information that readily identifies your submission; use both story title and your name (not the file name if different)
• Send the manuscript to the address listed in the guidelines for that anthology; general queries can be sent to the main Alchemy Press e-address
• A short  covering letter or email is all we need, stating basic details. We don’t require  a complete list of previous publications. A link to your blog or website will be sufficient 
• A brief biography of 50-100 words will be required if your story is selected for publication 
• If you are a UK-based writer submitting to a UK publication, select A4 page size; it really does help. And set your spell checker to British-English
• Speech marks: this is a bag of worms, and individual editors have their own preference. Read the submission guidelines. If you use double quotes, use single marks for quotes within speech (see the first sentence of this blog).
• All submissions will be read after the stated submission period ends and then the selection process should take six-eight weeks. Please bear with us
• Frequently, stories will be accepted subject to editorial suggestions/requests. Any such suggestions are intended to help the writer improve the story so consider them carefully
• Should your story be selected, the final format will be altered to conform to the ‘house’ rules for spelling, numbers, dates, etc

These guidelines are not meant to be onerous. In fact, they will help the new writer develop his or her trade, to learn how to send professional-looking manuscripts to mainstream publishers. Smart, clean manuscripts are more likely to be read than ones presented in an idiosyncratic format.

Happy writing!

Rumours: another review

Peter Atkins' collection Rumours of the Marvellous has received another excellent review on the This Is Horror website. Simon Marshall-Jones says:

"What it does show above all, however, is that the best writers are those who take the base material of what’s gone before, wilfully dissolve it and then set about recombining it into something absolutely new and marvellous. It isn’t difficult to see where Mr. Atkins has done just that, but here we witness him working truly wonderful alchemy on that undifferentiated material, which results in literary gold." Read the full review here.

Reprints

Although reprints will be considered for both anthologies (Pulp Heroes and Ancient Wonders), the preference is for original fiction. If you have a reprint that you think is suitable it is best to contact the editors beforehand.

Alchemy Press Editorial Services

The Alchemy Press' new Editorial Service is aimed for writers of fiction – both new and established writers – who require help with their manuscripts, be it a general edit for sense, pace, etc; or for the final line edit/proofread and layout before it is submitted to an editor for possible publication. We cater for writers of fantasy, horror, science fiction, supernatural, noir crime, etc, from the age of twelve years and up.

We also offer a book designing service. People familiar with Alchemy Press titles will know how important it is to produce attractive publications, books that will not look out of place on the bookshelf. Click here for further details.

Queries

If you have any questions about either the Book of Pulp Heroes or the Book of Ancient Wonders, please contact the editors and not the publisher. Use the emails included in the submission guidelines. Thanks.

Another editor's views

Co-editor of The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders Jan Edwards has also expanded on the submission guidelines -- see here. I'm sure that any differences between Jan's and Jenny's tastes will be settle amicably.

Ancient Wonders: an editor's view

Editor Jenny Barber has expanded on the submission guidelines for The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders. You can read her wishes here.

The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders

The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF ANCIENT WONDERS edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber.

Standing stones, burial mounds, ruined castles or sunken settlements, the ancient sites that litter our landscapes have a mysterious appeal which cannot be denied.

Think myth come to life; old folk tales updated; the consequences of tomb raiding; hidden guardians and secret civilisations; from archaeology to tourism; mysticism and myth; folklore to the fantastical. Take us on a journey around the esoteric and enigmatic places that cannot fail to fire the imagination. Intrigue us, thrill us, make us wonder about the where, the what and the who. 

We are interested in fantasy, sf, weird and horror tales of all kinds. (No erotica, romance or poetry.)

THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF ANCIENT WONDERS will be a paperback to be published in September 2012, to be followed by an eBook edition. Successful contributors will receive a copy of the book and a £10.00 advance against royalties on publication. We are after original fiction; but reprints will be considered if they are exceptional. No simultaneous or multiple submissions. We will only accept electronic submissions as email attachments in standard MS format, .rtf, .doc or .docx. Any submissions included in the body of the email will be rejected unread. The subject line should take the form “Title/author’s name” (i.e. The Hobbit/ JRR Tolkien). Contributions must be in the range of 2,000-6,000 words firm, with full contact details on the front page. The submission period runs from April 1st to June 30th 2012. Do not submit outside those dates. No acceptances or rejections will be made until after the deadline; we will endeavour to report back to you six to eight weeks after that. If you have heard nothing after nine weeks you may query at the email address below.

Email all queries and submissions to alchemybookJJ[at]gmail.com

The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes

The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF PULP HEROES. Edited by Mike Chinn.

The Shadow, The Bat, Doc Savage, The Spider; Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Detective Agency; Dusty Ayers & His Battle Birds; Sheena and Ka-Zar. Hard-boiled detectives, sinister vigilantes, bizarre villains – the staple of the Pulp tradition. We want fiction that celebrates (or subverts) that tradition – as well as taking a wild new look at it. Fiction set in the 1930s and 40s, the far future or mythical past, or the present day. Two-fisted heroes – and heroines – fighting for right and justice in the midnight city, foetid jungles or exotic, far-flung lands. Deranged villains for whom the world is never enough.

Sports stories, spy stories, aircraft & zeppelin stories, sea & pirate stories, Westerns, medieval romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy, movies and car racing – there’s no limit.

THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF PULP HEROES will be a paperback to be published in September 2012, to be followed by an eBook edition. Successful contributors will receive a copy of the book and a £10.00 advance against royalties on publication. We are after original fiction; but reprints will be considered if they are exceptional. No simultaneous or multiple submissions. We will only accept electronic submissions as email attachments in standard MS format, .rtf, .doc or .docx. Any submissions included in the body of the email will be rejected unread. The subject line should take the form “Title/author’s name/word count” (i.e. Mastermind of Mars/ ER Burroughs/3,000 words). Contributions must be in the range of 2,000-6,000 words firm, with full contact details on the front page. The submission period runs from April 1st to May 30th 2012. Do no submit outside those dates. No acceptances or rejections will be made until after the deadline; we will endeavour to report back to you six to eight weeks after that. If you have heard nothing after nine weeks you may query at the email address below.

Email all queries and submissions to pulpheroes[at]saladoth.com

THRILL US, SCARE US – MAKE US CARE.

New titles

The Alchemy Press is in negotiation with certain people with a view for future publications. Watch this space.

The Paladin Mandates - revised edition

The updated edition of Mike Chinn's The Paladin Mandates is now available as an eBook – specifically as a Kindle book via Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com.

Mixing generous dollops of The Scorpion, The Shadow and Dominic Fortune, with a fascination for old airplanes, a taste for '30s detective fiction ... enter Damian Paladin, ghost hunter, supernatural sleuth. This revised edition features seven Paladin stories including a brand new tale, “There’ll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”.

ASIN: B007IJJQVO

Rumours reviewed

Jim McLeod of the Ginger Nuts of Horror website has written a great review of Peter Atkins' Rumours of the Marvellous. Jim's review has been reprinted on the Shiny Shorts website.

Now on Twitter

The Alchemy Press can now be followed on Twitter: @alchemy_press

Stacy and Her Idiot

If you still need to be tempted, here is one of Peter Atkins' superb stories, "Stacy and Her Idiot", from the collection Rumours of the Marvellous: it's available via Paul Kane's website, Shadow Writer.