In our world, every day is Halloween and we can’t get enough of it!
The 63rd issue of The Sirens Call Zine has a sub-theme of Halloween. We’re also open to pieces celebrating Samhain, Punkie Night, All Soul’s Day, El Día de los Muertos, Guy Fawkes Night, Mischief Night, Hungry Ghost Festival, Pomona and Obon; you get the idea… Celebrate the dead, and what happens when the veil thins, and you’ll make us happy little horror campers! A small caveat to the restrictions on this call: please do not elevate or defame religion vigorously in your submission unless it’s vital to the storyline. We aren’t looking to celebrate religion, we’re looking to celebrate ghosts, ghouls, and all that can go wrong when the oogie-boogies come out to play.
Beyond this issue’s sub-theme, we’re always looking for well-constructed tales and poetry that deliver solid horror and dark…
The 62nd issue of The Sirens Call is a whopping 274 pages made up of 169 pieces of fiction in the form of short stories, flash fiction, and dark poetry from 105 different authors! With a sub-theme of Cryptid Horror, this puppy has a little something in the mix for everyone! Mike Lera’s Corridor of Horror presents ‘The Worst Shark Attack Films You’ve Never Seen‘, a glimpse of what makes bad shark flicks so good! Our Featured Artists, ‘The Flash Nites‘ (Katie & Chris Robleski), introduce us to ‘painting with light’ and offer 15 of their amazing photographic images – including the artwork on the cover of this issue! This quarter’s Featured Project is ‘Paper Cuts Live Show and Podcast‘ hosted by Brad Proctor and Jason Grell. They tell of how their separate BookTube channels birthed a show that hosts interviews with authors…
The sleepy little town of White Creek is awakening. Deep under the soil, an evil has toiled for centuries plotting to break the binds trapping it beneath the surface. The time is quickly dawning on their return. Each day leaves the magical chains weakened and crumbling. Each day brings White Creek closer to an unholy reckoning like the natural world has never witnessed before.
A storm is coming to White Creek.
When I started to develop White Creek, I did so with the history of the area deeply rooted in everything I did. If you read The Calling, Dragonflies, and the White Creek collection Small Town Terrors, you will find many things being dropped about the town’s past. The short stories tell the tale of some of the four founding families who still control the town from the shadows. Now that those three books are out, the next couple will begin to tie the dangling threads together. Frank Hill has no idea what is in store for him once the winter storm in Dragonflies clears and spring brings bloody blooms and warm kisses of death on the breeze from Lake Michigan.
The storm has arrived, but is it too late for White Creek?
Dragonflies, a White Creek Horror!
Sheriff Frank Hill knows about the evil simmering beneath the surface of White Creek. He’s battled it before, and it cost him dearly. Once again, he must step up to do the job he’s tried to run from for a lifetime.
Ten years ago, Eric Dean survived his brush with death. Taken by a killer and saved by a miracle, the experience left his world in shambles, and his mind infested with visions of dragonflies. Eric hasn’t seen the dragonflies in years, but as a new horror threatens the town, the visions have returned. Drawn back to White Creek to team up with the Sheriff and his partner, Chris, will they be able to overcome the odds and fight the evil brewing there? Or is the threat simply too much for them to handle this time?
One thing is certain, White Creek is no longer the safe place the residents believe it to be.
Small Town Terrors, a collection of White Creek horror stories!
White Creek isn’t your average small town. Behind the smiling faces and rustic charm lurks an unholy evil. The idyllic façade masks a bloody history buried deep beneath Main Street and hidden in the dense forests that surround it. The bonds that restrain the malevolence are breaking—White Creek is slowly changing as the terrors bleed out of the ground.
What deals were struck by the founding-families of White Creek? What is the price of protecting it from the horrors that lurk below? What forces await discovery by the innocent? And, in a moment of weakness, how does one choice change everything?
Come visit the sleepy town of White Creek, see what goes on once the sun sets and the evil comes out to play. The only certainty—nothing will ever be the same again.
Brent Abell resides in Southern Indiana with his wife and Drake the Puggle. Brent enjoys anything horror related. In his writing career, he’s had stories featured in over 30 publications from multiple presses. His books Southern Devils,Southern Devils: Reconstruction of the Dead, In Memoriam, The Calling, Phoenix Protocol, Dying Days: Death Sentence, Dying Days: Zealot, Death Inc., and Wicked Tales for Wicked People are available now. He is also a co-author of the horror-comedy Hellmouth series. Currently, he is working on a multitude of projects. You can hang out with him at BrentAbell.com for some rum and a good cigar.
At a recent convention, I was asked about White Creek. Why would I create a town instead of using a place familiar to readers? The answer is quite simple, I don’t want the town to be a place people know in reality. It isn’t a matter of making sure details are correct, but I want the readers to explore a new place besides the characters. I want everyone to go into the darkness together to learn about the horrors in the town. They need to go on the ride together without knowing when and where things have happened or may happen. I liked the idea of having a blank slate for me to create a fresh place and for everyone else to follow down the horrific rabbit hole White Creek has become along with me.
Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of places based in my hometown. Something about certain locations will ring true instead of being fictional. White Creek is also set in Indiana. Unlike Evansville, in the southern part of the state, White Creek is hidden along the backroads of northern Indiana on Lake Michigan. I felt merging the new location with some familiar places would create a warm and welcoming, but foreboding atmosphere.
Readers have found a new home in White Creek, and I hope they stay forever and ever…
Sheriff Frank Hill knows about the evil simmering beneath the surface of White Creek. He’s battled it before, and it cost him dearly. Once again, he must step up to do the job he’s tried to run from for a lifetime.
Ten years ago, Eric Dean survived his brush with death. Taken by a killer and saved by a miracle, the experience left his world in shambles, and his mind infested with visions of dragonflies. Eric hasn’t seen the dragonflies in years, but as a new horror threatens the town, the visions have returned. Drawn back to White Creek to team up with the Sheriff and his partner, Chris, will they be able to overcome the odds and fight the evil brewing there? Or is the threat simply too much for them to handle this time?
One thing is certain, White Creek is no longer the safe place the residents believe it to be.
Small Town Terrors, a collection of White Creek horror stories!
White Creek isn’t your average small town. Behind the smiling faces and rustic charm lurks an unholy
evil. The idyllic façade masks a bloody history buried deep beneath Main Street and hidden in the dense forests that surround it. The bonds that restrain the malevolence are breaking—White Creek is slowly changing as the terrors bleed out of the ground.
What deals were struck by the founding-families of White Creek? What is the price of protecting it from the horrors that lurk below? What forces await discovery by the innocent? And, in a moment of weakness, how does one choice change everything?
Come visit the sleepy town of White Creek, see what goes on once the sun sets and the evil comes out to play. The only certainty—nothing will ever be the same again.
I’m not sure where I want to begin. I can feel the change in the air every time I step outside. Drake feels it too when I let the poor dog outside, and he doesn’t even have the touch about him. I wish I hadn’t been chosen for this duty. Protecting White Creek as sheriff was one thing, but I also protect it from the evils bound to the earth below the streets and houses.
Chris knows something isn’t right either. I feel sorry for him, but he’s along for the ride now. The evil is finally leaking out, and for the first time, the town experienced it in all its horrific glory. I don’t think I have it in me anymore. What I had to go through during the storm was something I hope to never feel again. It’ll take years for the town to heal, and I don’t think we have years left around here.
I don’t know why I’m writing this. What I really need to do is hit my favorite stool at Telly’s and drink a pitcher of beer. I hate this self-doubt. Maybe old man Helfrich didn’t make the right choice when he tapped me to be White Creek’s protector. So far, I haven’t done a good job of keeping the people safe. There are some in town who I figure are secretly working against me. I can’t blame them, I mean if I was part of the four founding families, I’d want certain bits of White Creek’s history left in the dark too.
Good night, I have a lot of paperwork from the storm. I guess I’ll stop here and come back later if the night stays quiet. I can’t help but think this is only the beginning. I want to go back in time and run away from all this, but I see Carl’s maddened face all those years ago, and I change my mind.
I’m tired, but I have to battle on. I have to be the light in the darkness. I am Frank Hill, sheriff and protector of White Creek from all the things that go bump in the night.
Dragonflies, a White Creek Horror!
Sheriff Frank Hill knows about the evil simmering beneath the surface of White Creek. He’s battled it before, and it cost him dearly. Once again, he must step up to do the job he’s tried to run from for a lifetime.
Ten years ago, Eric Dean survived his brush with death. Taken by a killer and saved by a miracle, the experience left his world in shambles, and his mind infested with visions of dragonflies. Eric hasn’t seen the dragonflies in years, but as a new horror threatens the town, the visions have returned. Drawn back to White Creek to team up with the Sheriff and his partner, Chris, will they be able to overcome the odds and fight the evil brewing there? Or is the threat simply too much for them to handle this time?
One thing is certain, White Creek is no longer the safe place the residents believe it to be.
Small Town Terrors, a collection of White Creek horror stories!
White Creek isn’t your average small town. Behind the smiling faces and rustic charm lurks an unholy evil. The idyllic façade masks a bloody history buried deep beneath Main Street and hidden in the dense forests that surround it. The bonds that restrain the malevolence are breaking—White Creek is slowly changing as the terrors bleed out of the ground.
What deals were struck by the founding-families of White Creek? What is the price of protecting it from the horrors that lurk below? What forces await discovery by the innocent? And, in a moment of weakness, how does one choice change everything?
Come visit the sleepy town of White Creek, see what goes on once the sun sets and the evil comes out to play. The only certainty—nothing will ever be the same again.
Sirens Call Publications is pleased to announce the release of…
Small Town Terrors
by Brent Abell
Small Town Terrors, a collection of White Creek horror stories!
White Creek isn’t your average small town. Behind the smiling faces and rustic charm lurks an unholy evil. The idyllic façade masks a bloody history buried deep beneath Main Street and hidden in the dense forests that surround it. The bonds that restrain the malevolence are breaking—White Creek is slowly changing as the terrors bleed out of the ground.
What deals were struck by the founding-families of White Creek? What is the price of protecting it from the horrors that lurk below? What forces await discovery by the innocent? And, in a moment of weakness, how does one choice change everything?
Come visit the sleepy town of White Creek, see what goes on once the sun sets and the evil comes out to play. The only certainty—nothing will ever be the same again.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Brent Abell resides in Southern Indiana with his wife and Drake the Puggle. Brent enjoys anything horror related. In his writing career, he’s had stories featured in over 30 publications from multiple presses. His books Southern Devils,Southern Devils: Reconstruction of the Dead, In Memoriam, The Calling, Phoenix Protocol, Dying Days: Death Sentence, Dying Days: Zealot, Death Inc., and Wicked Tales for Wicked People are available now. He is also a co-author of the horror-comedy Hellmouth series. Currently, he is working on a multitude of projects. You can hang out with him at BrentAbell.com for some rum and a good cigar. Visit Brent’s Amazon Author page at: Brent Abell.
Sirens Call Publications is pleased to announce the release of…
Dragonflies
by Brent Abell
A White Creek Horror!
Sheriff Frank Hill knows about the evil simmering beneath the surface of White Creek. He’s battled it before, and it cost him dearly. Once again, he must step up to do the job he’s tried to run from for a lifetime.
Ten years ago, Eric Dean survived his brush with death. Taken by a killer and saved by a miracle, the experience left his world in shambles, and his mind infested with visions of dragonflies. Eric hasn’t seen the dragonflies in years, but as a new horror threatens the town, the visions have returned. Drawn back to White Creek to team up with the Sheriff and his partner, Chris, will they be able to overcome the odds and fight the evil brewing there? Or is the threat simply too much for them to handle this time?
One thing is certain, White Creek is no longer the safe place the residents believe it to be.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR — Brent Abell resides in Southern Indiana with his wife and Drake the Puggle. Brent enjoys anything horror related. In his writing career, he’s had stories featured in over 30 publications from multiple presses. His books Southern Devils,Southern Devils: Reconstruction of the Dead, In Memoriam, The Calling, Phoenix Protocol, Dying Days: Death Sentence, Dying Days: Zealot, Death Inc., and Wicked Tales for Wicked People are available now. He is also a co-author of the horror-comedy Hellmouth series. Currently, he is working on a multitude of projects. You can hang out with him at BrentAbell.com for some rum and a good cigar. Visit Brent’s Amazon Author page at: Brent Abell.
Submissions for the 62nd issue of The Sirens Call, featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry are closed.
Sirens Call Publications would like to thank all of the authors and artists who submitted their work for consideration. We’ll be in touch as soon as we can with our decisions.
If you are looking for Ad space, please contact Nina at Nina@SirensCallPublications.com for details.
Lee Andrew Forman 