Showing posts with label Bram Stoker Awards. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bram Stoker Awards. Show all posts

Friday, April 10, 2015

Review: Forsaken (Shadow Cove Saga #1)

Forsaken
by
JD Barker
Available in Kindle format
and in paperback
on Amazon.


Forsaken is a Bram Stoker Award nominee for Superior Achievement in a First Novel. The award are currently being voted on and will be presented on May 9, 2015.
Will Forsaken win? Possibly. I've not read any of the other 4 nominees, but I'd say this has a fair chance at taking the prize.

Meet author Thad McAlister, who has just penned what he believes to be his best, biggest seller, "Rise of the Witch". Written in journal style, we're taken back to 1692, in the town of Shadow Cove where a witch trial has begun. Thad details the trial, and introduces us to a young woman who may or may not be guilty of witchcraft.

In present day, his wife, Rachel, is pregnant with their second child. Thad goes to New York to meet with his agent and Rachel and daughter Ashley are left at home alone, where odd things start to occur. Their yard is taken over by little piles of dirt. Then the dirt starts showing up in the house...along with...no, I won't tell you that part.

The chapters are short and lead up to a rattling conclusion. My first thought about a third of the way in was, "Man, this is giving me the creeping tinglies." And that is a good thing.

I hope Forsaken wins. And I hope JD Barker keeps writing.

Oh, and by the way, the last chapter is an homage to Stephen King in the best way ever. Not going to spoil it by telling you here. Read it for yourself.









Saturday, January 12, 2013

Bram Stoker Award Winning Novels



Good evening constant reader.

I would like to bring your attention to the Bram Stoker Awards. For a long time, I had seen mention of this accolade, but wasn't certain what the details were.
Named after Irish writer and father of Dracula Bram Stoker, each year since 1987, by ballot, the Horror Writer's Association bestows the Bram Stoker award for superior achievement in horror and dark fantasy writing.

I thought listing the past winners for your perusal would be a good idea, as these are supposed to be the best of the best.

Here are the winners since the inception of the award in 1987 for best novel.

1987  Misery - Stephen King
          Swan Song - Robert McCammon
          (tie)

1988  The Silence of the Lambs - Thomas Harris

1989 Carrion Comfort - Dan Simmons

1990  Mine - Robert McCammon

1991  Boy's Life - Robert McCammon

1992  Blood of the Lamb - Thomas F. Monteleone

1993  The Throat - Peter Straub

1994  Dead in the Water - Nancy Holder

1995  Zombie - Joyce Carole Oates

1996  The Green Mile -  Stephen King

1997  Children of the Dusk -  Janet Berliner & George Guthridge

1998  Bag of Bones - Stephen King

1999  Mr. X - Peter Straub

2000  The Traveling Vampire Show - Richard Laymon

2001  American Gods - Neil Gaiman

2002  The Night Class - Tom Piccirilli

2003  Lost Boy Lost Girl - Peter Straub

2004  In The Night Room - Peter Straub

2005  Creepers - David Morrell
            Dead in the Beast - Charlee Jacob

2006  Lisey's Story - Stephen King

2007  The Missing - Sarah Langan

2008  Duma Key - Stephen King

2009  Audrey's Door - Sarah Lagan

2010  A Dark Matter - Peter Straub

2011  Flesh Eaters - Joe McKinney

I've read ten of these and they deserved the award.
I hope this helps you to seek out award winning work by established authors.