Eric J. Guignard is a writer, editor, and anthologist of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press Dark Moon Books. He’s twice won the Bram Stoker Award (the highest literary award of horror fiction), won the Shirley Jackson Award, and been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and International Thriller Writers Award.

He has over 150 stories and non-fiction author credits appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric’s published multiple fiction anthologies, including PROFESSOR CHARLATAN BARDOT’S TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY TO THE MOST (FICTIONAL) HAUNTED BUILDINGS IN THE WEIRD, WILD WORLD and A WORLD OF HORROR, each a showcase of international horror short fiction.

He currently publishes the acclaimed series of author primers created to champion modern masters of the dark and macabre, EXPLORING DARK SHORT FICTION. He is also publisher and acquisitions editor for the renowned +HORROR LIBRARY+ anthology series. Formerly, he was curator of the series, Haunted LIBRARY OF HORROR CLASSICS through SourceBooks with co-editor Leslie S. Klinger.

His latest release is A GRAVESIDE GALLERY: TALES OF GHOSTS AND DARK MATTERS (his second fiction collection through Cemetery Dance). His newest anthology, SCARING AND DARING, is available through HarperCollins.

Outside the glamorous world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at his website, blog, or social media.

SJ Townend writes contemporary romance, horror, sci-fi, speculative and dark fiction. Her first romance novel, PICK-UP LINES, will be published via Champagne Book Group early 2023 and her debut horror collection, SICK GIRL SCREAMS, will be published by Brigids Gate Press end of 2023. She has short stories published with Ghost Orchid Press, Dark Matter Magazine, and Brigids Gate Press and a handful of other awesome indie presses.

She won the Secret Attic short story contest (2020) for her story, 'We Still Don't Use the Garage' and the Tortive Literature story contest (2021) for her short story, 'Joy'.

She was long-listed for a non-fiction contest run by Women On Writing in 2020 for a piece about losing her mother to cancer, entitled 'Blood Moon'.

SJ was also shortlisted for the HG Wells Story Contest (2021) for her short piece of post-apocalyptic eco-horror, 'The Beauty Parlour'.

Twitter: @SJTownend