News: Spectral is on the move!

Spectral is ACTUALLY on the move, as next month we’ll be dismantling the Tower and taking it (and the imprint) lock, stock and barrel to new environs. These are exciting times, and we very much look forward to effecting the move as efficiently and quickly as we can, with as little disruption to service as possible. However, unfortunately, the timing of the move has had a knock-on effect with our publishing schedule as you can imagine, so please bear with us. Read on to find out what’s happening.

Firstly, there will be no Christmas Ghost Story Annual this year – there just won’t be the time to devote to it to do it justice. Rest assured, however, it WILL be back again next year! Apologies to all who were looking forward to the volume! Also, for those who missed last year’s debut of the annual, there’ll be a special offer on the paperbacks coming next week – look out for that.

Secondly, the hardback editions of The Christmas Ghost Stories of Lawrence Gordon Clark will be delayed until sometime in January – again, apologies for any inconvenience. We will be messaging all those who bought copies individually to let them know about this situation. However, it also means that we can concentrate on taking the time to produce something extra special and beautiful.

We would just like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their patience this year – matters haven’t always gone smoothly on several projects, but we tried our best to minimise the disruption. Your co-operation is very much appreciated!

Onwards and upwards!

New reviews – 22:07:2013

Here we are on a Monday morning yet again and yes, we have more reviews to tell you about. Stephen Volk’s Whitstable is still attracting great notices, and we have two to tell you about today:

The first one is from The Horror Hothouse and Simon Ball is the man responsible for the review – you can read that one by clicking here.

The second write-up is from author S. P. Miskowski on her Shock Room blog and her thoughts on the novella can be found here.

PAPERBACK

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

KINDLE

AMAZON UK

AMAZON US

13 GHOSTS OF CHRISTMAS

So what, you may rightly wonder, are we doing talking about this anthology in July? Well, Peter Tennant of Black Static has just published a great review of the book in that magazine’s Casenotes review section, which ends with these immortal words:

“Let’s hope this festive fiction bonanza becomes a regular seasonal stocking filler, as I’m getting really tired of those navy blue socks sent to me every year by friends with good intentions but lousy taste.”

We think that says it all!

(By the way, we still have plenty of paperback copies of this book – why not get in early and buy yourself (or a friend/relative)  a copy to prepare yourself for this year’s tome of festive frights? Purchasing details and links can be found in the Spectral Shop, which can be found as the last item on the menu bar above!)

Review and news – 15:01:2013

First up this morning is this review of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas from Riju Ganguly, posted to his Thoughts of a Perceptive Reader blog – the write-up can be accessed by clicking here.

NEWS

Subscriptions

For the very first time since the chapbooks were launched two years ago it looks like they could be reaching the fully 100% subscribed mark – there are fewer than TEN (10) places left before they will be. And the next chapbook, Paul Kane’s Creakers, is bound to go fast as the Arrowhead trilogy author is a popular writer. And the best way to ensure that you do secure a copy is to subscribe, which couldn’t be simpler!

Yearly (4 issue) subscriptions cost £16UK/£23.50EU /$45US/ $45US RoW and there are handy Paypal buttons down the right-hand side of this blog. To make it a little sweeter, if you order a subscription before midnight GMT tomorrow (Wednesday) then we will throw in an extra issue, making it five for the price of four. (Individual issues can also be bought: £4UK/£7.00EU/$16US/$16RoW – contact us on spectralpress[AT]gmail[DOT]com for details).

Slipcases

In the near future, Spectral subscribers will be able to keep the chapbook collection nice and safe with one of our custom slipcases. Each one will be a stylish way of keeping all those lovely little books together and stop them getting damaged. Measuring 213mm x 47mm x 149mm and covered in black buckram with the Spectral logo silver foil blocked on the spine, they are just the right size to hold two years’ worth of chapbooks, in other words 8 issues. They will retail at £8 each + postage (ie £10 all in) or £15 for two (+ postage).

They won’t be ready for a month or two, but I would encourage people to send us an email (spectralpress[AT]gmail[DOT]com) to register your interest in buying one. They will also be offered as an option when ordering a new subscription.

Onward and upward!

Review and news – 14:01:2013

It’s a spookily and eerily quiet winter’s day here at Spectral Towers, a thin blanket of snow having fallen overnight and with the threat of more being added to it hanging in the sky. But it’s okay, as it provides just the right atmosphere for reading the latest review of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas. This one’s from David Riley and can be found on his blog – the review can be read here.

NEWS

As many of you know, the Spectral chapbooks sell out very fast and so the only way to ensure that you receive your copy is to subscribe. To make it even sweeter, we here at Spectral are offering a subscription deal – anyone who subscribes by midnight GMT on Wednesday 16th January will receive NOT four issues for the year, but FIVE. Yes, one issue completely free! To take advantage just use the Paypal buttons running down the right-hand side of this page. This offer applies equally to new orders, existing subscribers and renewals.

Subscribe today and get one issue FREE!!

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Musing darkly on The 13 Ghosts of Christmas

Just a very short blog entry on this overcast and foggy morning here at Spectral Towers, to let you know about the latest review of Spectral’s very first anthology, The 13 Ghosts of Christmas. This one’s been written by Anthony Watson and appears on his Dark Musings blog. If you want to read what he’s written about it, all you need to do is click here.

More soon!

Reviews round-up – 09:01:2013

Midweek again, and here we are with some more reviews of Spectral output:

First up is Gef Fox’s review of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas – this one was posted to Goodreads but will also appear on his blog Wag the Fox on 18th January. The review is here.

Goodreads is also the place where Ross Warren chose to review the latest in the Spectral series of chapbooks, David Tallerman’s The Way of the Leaves – that one can be found right here.

Another review of the chapbook has just been posted to KM Lockwood’s The Wedding Ghost blog – to read what she thought of the eighth entry in series of short stories, just go here.

NEWS

Yesterday, we posted an apologetic blog about how the paperback edition of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas wouldn’t arrive here at Spectral Towers until next week – well, late last night we were told that the books had already been printed and shipped out. We are awaiting delivery which should (theoretically) be today. As soon as they reach us they’ll be packaged up and sent out to purchasers. Thanks for everyone’s patience!

Onward and upwards!

13 Ghosts paperbacks: an update

This blog post is for all those who have ordered the paperback edition of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas: due to an administrative error on our part, the books will not arrive here at Spectral Towers until next week. As soon as they do, however, they will be despatched to all purchasers. We apologise for the delay and for any inconvenience caused – emails will be sent to all those who bought a copy.

Many thanks for your patience!!

New Year review roundup

Three days into 2013 and already there are some reviews of Spectral books to talk about, so without dilly-dallying we shall get straight into it:

First up is a review of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas from reader Ross Warren over at Goodreads, which you can read by clicking on the link.

Paul Brazill, also at Goodreads, gives us his assessment of Mark West’s chapbook story, What Gets Left Behind –  you can read that one here.

And finally, Matthew Fryer of Welcome to the Hellforge has made John Llewellyn Probert’s The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine one of his favourite novels/novellas of 2012 – you can read what he thought of it here.

Additionally, Jim McLeod of the Ginger Nuts of Horror blog announced his Horror Discovery of the Year, and it is no less a writer than Dr. Valentine himself, John Llewellyn Probert – read his blog entry here. Jim also cites The Nine Deaths of Dr. Valentine as his favourite novella of the year.

So there you have it – a really great start to the New Year. But it doesn’t stop there – more reviews soon, so onward and upwards!

The 13 Ghosts: the paperback

This week we will be taking delivery of the paperback edition of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas – order your copy today! Paypal buttons are below for your convenience and all prices include postage and packing:

£12.50 UK

£15 EU

$22 US and RoW

THE HARDBACK EDITION IS BEING DELIVERED TOMORROW!

Look forward to hearing from you soon!!

Monday morning review round-up

So, here we are at the start of yet another week, and we have a couple of reviews of The 13 Ghosts of Christmas to tell you about:

First up is one by the almighty Pablocheesecake of The Eloquent Page – see what he has to say about Spectral’s first anothology here.

Next, we have a write-up from Graeme Reynolds over at Starburst magazine – you can read that one here.

NOTE:

We have emailed everybody who pre-ordered one of these volumes about the slight delay due to the printers being behind on their orders – it is due to be with us on

WEDNESDAY 19TH DECEMBER 2012

Orders will be fulfilled as soon as is humanly possible. Once again we apologise most profoundly for this unforeseen delay and we thank you for your continuing patience!

Thankyou!