The boundary line between instinct and reason is of a very shadowy nature.
-Edgar Allan Poe (1840)
I’m thrilled to share that Shadowy Natures: Tales of Psychological Horror is out today. This disturbing collection edited by Rebecca Rowland features the debut of my story “Maternal Bond,” where postpartum paranoia and isolation chip at a new mom’s sanity as an outside threat pushes her over the edge.
I chat with Rebecca about the story’s background, as well as horror writing and inspirations, in my author interview here.
Update: Genre Junkies discussed Shadowy Natures with Rowland on their podcast, concluding: “cover to cover, excellent writing…a truly great collection: one of the strongest I’ve come across.” You can listen to the full podcast here: 87 – “Shadowy Natures” Anthology and Interview With the Editor, Rebecca Rowland!
About Shadowy Natures
With its twenty-one stories of serial killers and sociopaths, fixations and fetishes, breakdowns and bad decisions crafted by authors as diverse as their writing styles, Shadowy Natures leads fans of psychological horror down dark and treacherous roads to destinations they will be too unsettled to leave.
From unique twists on traditional terror tropes to fresh frights found in the most innocuous of places, these tales will surprise and unnerve even the most veteran horror fans. Featuring brand new fiction from Jeremy Billingsley, C.W. Blackwell, Barrie Darke, Matthew R. Davis, Christina Delia, KC Grifant, Liam Hogan, K.N. Johnson, Thomas Kearnes, Rudy Kremberg, Scotty Milder, Bryan Miller, Hollee Nelson, Elin Olausson, James Edward O’Brien, Andrew Punzo, Lee Rozelle, Joseph Rubas, Paul Stansfield, Louis Stephenson, and Thomas Vaughn.
Shadowy Natures: Stories of Psychological Horror is now available to order through your local bookseller or at Amazon in print, audiobook and e-book.
Early acclaim for Shadowy Natures and “Maternal Bond”
“The perfect anthology with 21 dark tales that will get in your head, squirming and pulsing until you have to look away. There is something in here for every fan of horror and/or dark fiction.”
–Holly Rae Garcia, author of Come Join the Murder
“‘Maternal Bond’ by KC Grifant gets into the uncomfortable skin of post-pregnancy, and that’s only the beginning of the discomfort that this story brings. Grifant brilliantly channels the sleeplessness and disorientation of new motherhood, then moves in and shocks us awake.”
–Goodreads reviewer
“Dark prose and wildly unique stories…I suggest giving this book a looksie!”
-Mortality in Horror
“A terrific and terrifying selection of stories that will make you squirm in your seat and force you to get up to check the doors and windows before you go to sleep.”
-Bob Hastings, Goodreads
“These 21 dreadfully dark tales held me captive from first to last story…”Maternal Bond” by KC Grifant in which a new mom battles lack of sleep and postpartum depression really got under my skin as I recalled my own earliest days of coping with a baby who cried nonstop.”
-Well Worth a Read
This story is submitted for 2020 Bram Stoker Award® consideration. Interested members of HWA you access a copy of the story until January 15, 2021 by going to this password protected page. The password is Bram Stoker’s famed character.
KC Grifant 