Pre-Order Warmer Than California by Felicia Lee

 

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BE THE BEAR Female Rage Anthology Open Submissions and Preorders

 

Inspired by a piece of artwork found online by Christopher Golden, Lycan Valley acquired artwork rights (cover reveal coming soon!) from the original artist and has opened submissions for BE THE BEAR Female Rage Anthology, edited by MJ Sydney and Lee Murray.

Additionally, we have set up a crowdfundr campaign in order to offer additional preorder options and ongoing updates. It is important to note that this anthology will be released regardless of funding, so there is no risk to supporters. We simply set it up this way in order to offer more options than our usual preorder package. (Additional exclusive options and updates coming soon!)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES FOR BE THE BEAR FEMALE RAGE ANTHOLOGY

Not too warm. Not too cold. Just Dead. Just Right.

BE THE BEAR Female Rage Anthology, edited by MJ Sydney and Lee Murray

Submissions are open now through December 1* or until full. Please read all guidelines before submitting!

While we appreciate that there are many men who support and advocate for women and can effectively write female characters, this anthology is open to female** authors only! (See below how men can help support this anthology.)

This is a non-profit charity anthology to benefit organizations directly helping rape and sexual assault victims. (Specific organizations will be announced prior to publication).

As the title and cover image suggests, we want stories of women BEING rather CHOOSING the bear. We are looking for horror and speculative women's rage stories. Other than that, we’re leaving it open to allow women to express how and what that means, in a way that best reflects their experiences, who they are and their writing styles. The best female rage stories will be crafted with sensitivity and offer insight into our reactions to the real-world threats facing women and girls in a way that opens dialogue. (Stories based on real people and/or events should be depicted as fictional with names changed.) 

Don't hold back. Be loud. Show us your wild woman. Be feral. Show us your rage. Don't choose the bear. Be the bear! Give us your best female rage stories in 1500 and 7500 words (with the sweet spot being around 3500). A limited number of poetry submissions will be considered as well and you may include up to three poems per submission. (Artists*** wishing to submit original artwork should contact Lycan Valley directly.)

Due to the nature of this anthology, we are not limiting relevant graphic descriptions other than to the point they are unnecessary for the story. Do not make your story more graphic in terms of sexual abuse, violence or gore than it needs to be. We will leave it up to you to determine what that level is based on your story’s needs.

ABSOLUTELY NO AI. No reprints unless requested by our editors.

As this is a non-profit, charity anthology, we are asking for stories to be donated for the cause. All sales profits will go directly to support and advocacy for rape victims. Authors will receive a free ebook and audiobook download plus 5 discounted codes to give away and may request a printed copy of the anthology as well (with shipping included in the US, UK and Australia, outside these areas will incur a shipping fee). Authors may also purchase up to 10 copies of the anthology at print cost plus shipping (shipping direct from the printer).

Send all submissions through our submission portal.

With the subject line: STORY/POEM — TITLE — ### WORDS/LINES

Please include a 50-75 word third person author bio as well. Authors wishing to remain anonymous for personal or safety reasons, please let us know in the cover letter section of the submission portal and we will ensure your byline reads "by Anonymous" with no bio included.

Submissions should be formatted to SHUNN manuscript formatting guidelines (or close to it) and be saved as an .rtf or .pages file. Poetry submissions may include up to three separate poems in one document.

Inspiration from the cover artwork can be found here.

*In the event we close submissions early, advance notification will be made on our website and social media. Additionally, we may extend the deadline as needed. If necessary, we may expand this anthology to two volumes.

**This anthology is open to women only. This includes all women, regardless of sex assigned at birth. Men are encouraged to support this anthology by sharing, preordering, and reading women’s stories, by listening to women when they say no or are uncomfortable with men’s behavior and by refusing to stand by and stay silent when their male friends are sexually inappropriate towards women.

***Female artists interested in donating original interior artwork should contact Lycan Valley directly at submissions.LVP@outlook.com with the subject line BEAR ART. To be considered, art must be the artists own original artwork, no AI or computer graphics. High resolution jpg or png images will be required upon acceptance. Non-art submissions to this email will be deleted unread.

NEW RELEASE: To The Last Ion by Colleen Anderson

 

To The Last Ion

A poetry collection by Colleen Anderson

Copyright 2026 LVP Publications

Available in ebook, paperback and hardcover

Cover Art by Greg Chapman

"If Dr. Frankenstein created an angel from the future darks and present wounds of humanity’s deepest soul, we would get some semblance of the powerful vision that is Colleen Anderson’s To the Last Ion. Here, science change, climate change, human change, and visionary first encounters are presented through rhythmic poetic truths that invigorate the heart with second chances." —Jamal Hodge, Bram Stoker Award for Everything Endless.

“TO THE LAST ION is simply brilliant! Colleen Anderson takes us on journeys through a complex universe and informs, entertains, and enchants! Highly recommended!”—Jonathan Maberry, NY Times bestselling author of Bewilderness and Ghosts of the Void.

"Utilizing history, horror, and science fiction, Colleen Anderson has woven a tapestry of monsters, dinosaurs, aliens, and robots in a collection that seeks to explore our world and the human condition. To The Last Ion is a profound and intelligent work of poetry that reads like nothing that's come before. You'll want to read this many times over."—Pedro Iniguez, Bram Stoker and Elgin Award-winning writer of Mexicans on the Moon

"Colleen Anderson’s To the Last Ion is smart, sharp, darkly funny, and wonderfully unsettling. These poems look straight into all the strange little ways humanity keeps inventing new problems for itself. Anderson can make me laugh at a cyberpumpkin one minute and then quietly devastate me with a poem about survival, exploitation, or the end of the world in the next. This is speculative poetry with a wicked sense of humor and beneath all the darkness, a hidden moral compass asking us to wake up, pay attention, and maybe do better before we run out of ions."—Angela Yuriko Smith, Two-time Bram Stoker Winner and Publisher of Space & Time magazine

"Ready or not, time marches on. Or does it? Colleen Anderson provides thought-provoking images with words. Creating tales. Horror is all around us. You don’t have to look far. Concerns for climate. Survival. Have we all but destroyed the chance for generations that may come? Or not… The dance of sex. Impregnation. Castration. Dissolving chemists. The living dead. Poison. Grief. Innocence shattered. Hope remains, as does love. Anderson’s visions paint an unforgettable picture in this science fiction/horror poetry collection."—Cindy O’Quinn, Bram Stoker Award winning author

"In the stunning poetry collection To the Last Ion, Anderson deftly traces her finger along the pulsing vein between where we have been and where we are going... and asks, does anyone care? From passionate introspection of the human condition to our future termination and replacement at the hands of aliens, this one hits deep, dark, and hard—yet there are gems of humor and pop culture intermixed. Dive in!"—Carol Gyzander, Bram Stoker Award recipient, World Fantasy Award and Rhysling Award finalist

“Colleen Anderson’s latest speculative poetry collection, To The Last Ion, takes us through realms of fantastical monsters, scientific prophets/musicians, and time travelers by dissecting human frailties and desires down to the atomic level, then uses her master storyteller skills to create darkly entertaining format-ions, short & long, that don’t judge, but rather present the many wicked ways we humans deconstruct the universe.”—Linda D. Addison, award-winning author, HWA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient and SFPA Grand Master.

Buy eBook 
Buy Paperback (US, UK, AUS)
Buy Hardcover (US, UK, AUS)

Coming Soon: Familial Reflections Edited by MJ Sydney

 

Familial Reflections: An anthology of familial horror reflecting love/hate, light/dark, good/evil.

Terrifying stories by Richard Thomas, Michael Bailey, Stephen King, Richard Chizmar, Justin Zimmerman and Mercedes M Yardley.

Chilling poetry by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi, Wrath James White, Maxwell I Gold and Maria Alexander with an introduction by John Palisano

Audiobook narrated by Joe Hempel

Cover art by George Contronis

eBook, audiobook, paperback and limited edition hardcover (available only through the campaign, includes special thank you section for all campaign contributors). Pre-order the anthology or access exclusive campaign perks and please share with your friends!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Familial Reflections Anthology Quote: Poetry by Maxwell Ian Gold

 

“Still, metallic fingers surfaced from beyond my peripheries as if crooked serpents breaching calm waters where nothing was the same ever again.” — Maxwell Ian Gold

Familial Reflections Anthology Quote: Story by Justin Zimmerman

 

“I’m surrounded by darkness and I’m lying on my back on something hard and unforgiving. The air around me is stifling and fetid and, for a moment, I’m sure I’ve been buried alive…” — Justin Zimmerman

Pre-order now or find exclusive perks only available through the campaign! Please share and tell your friends!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Familial Reflections Anthology Quote: Story by Mercedes Yardley

 

“Joni was beautiful and solemn and sang like an angel. Or, more accurately, she sang for the angels. She’d sit up in her bed at night, her voice lilting prettily, rising and falling, while a winged concourse gathered around her.” — Mercedes Yardley

Pre-order now or find exclusive perks only available through the campaign! Please share and tell your friends!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Familial Reflections Anthology Quote: Story by Richard Chizmar

“I killed my father on a Friday night in June. Two-and-a-half months later, they found us in a backwoods hotel in an Oregon lumber town.” — Richard Chizmar 

Familial Reflections Anthology Quote: Poetry by Wrath James White

 

“I had to feed it

We had to feed it

or it would eat me

from the marrow

to the bone

to the muscles and sinew

through my skin 

like maggots on carrion

and feed itself

on those nearest to me” — Wrath James White

Familial Reflections Anthology Quote: Story by Stephen King

 

“The ladder had always held us before, we thought it would hold us again, which is a philosophy that get men and nations in trouble time after time.” — Stephen King

Pre-order now or find exclusive perks only available through the campaign! Please share and tell your friends!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Familial Reflections Quote: Poetry by Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi

“You always scold me about my bottom lip, 

that it will bring the blackbirds, and rather, 

I think they come from your angry stench,

Cackling to each other about your arrogance.” — Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi

Familial Reflections Anthology Quote: Story by Michael Bailey

 

“I guess it’s easier to communicate after you’re dead. Less confrontation. Nothing physical to get in the way. Just dialogue.” —Michael Bailey

Pre-order now or find exclusive perks only available through the campaign! Please share and tell your friends!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Familial Reflections Quote: Story by Richard Thomas

 

“This is a secret he tells no one, these stops, these wishes, these deeds. This is not the first time he has asked for help. And it probably won’t be the last.” — Richard Thomas

Pre-order now or find exclusive perks only available through the campaign! Please share and tell your friends!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Familial Reflections Quote: Poetry by Maria Alexander

“Bleed from your forehead

bleed from your knees

arms thrown forward fingers splayed

the asphalt stigmata

blood hot, mingled with brine

weep blood between your thighs

bleed beneath your skin…” — Maria Alexander

Pre-order now or find exclusive perks only available through the campaign!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Familial Reflections Quote: Introduction by John Palisano

 

“In MJ Sydney’s expertly curated “Familial Reflections” we cover a wide spectrum, from the poetic lucidity of Maria Alexander, Max Ian Gold, Erin Sweet Al-Mehairi, and Wrath James White, to the ruminant works of Michael Bailey, Richard Chizmar, and Justin Zimmerman, all the way to the visceral punch and heartbreak of  Stephen King, Mercedes Yardley and Richard Thomas.” — John Palisano

Pre-order now or find exclusive perks only available through the campaign!

https://fnd.us/LVPFamReflections?ref=sh_4EXJU6

Pre-Order HEADCASE: Collector's Edition Hardcover by Ken MacGregor & Kerry Lipp

 

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Pre-Order The Deadly Election 50th Anniversary Edition by Mort Castle

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Pre-Order Of Gods and Monsters by JG Faherty

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Pre-Order To The Last Ion by Colleen Anderson

 

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NEW RELEASE: The Nightmare World by JG Faherty

 

Twenty-five years ago, Officer Robert Navarro vanished when he followed a bloodthirsty demon through a supernatural portal. 

Now he's back.

When former police chief Bill Furman shoots the Boogeyman in a child's closet, he expects to find a body. Instead, the monster disappears and a man long believed dead steps out of the darkness with an impossible story. 

Robert has spent more than two decades trapped in a nightmare world, hunting the creature that stole his life and nearly destroyed his family. And he knows one thing for certain: The one Bill killed wasn't the only one. 

A second monster is loose in Moonrise Cove and it's out for vengeance, leaving a trail of blood, terror, and mutilated bodies in its wake. As the town spirals into panic, Bill, Robert, and Robert's son Ken must join forces with a rogue FBI agent protect the town and the people they love from an evil that can use any dark space as a doorway between worlds and turn any home into a slaughterhouse. 

But to stop the slaughter, they'll have to do more than survive the night. 

They'll have to take the fight into the monsters' world. 

And once they cross over into the Nightmare World, they may never come back.

AVAILABLE NOW FROM LYCAN VALLEY

Cover art by Greg Chapman. Audiobook narrated by Kelly Wilkinson.

Available June 16, 2026 in:

• eBook
• Audiobook
• eBook/Audiobook Bundle
• Paperback

The Nightmare World Pre-Order Package remains available to the public through June 20 and for Newsletter Subscribers through the end of June. Get all three books -- The Nightmare Man, The Nightmare People, The Nightmare World -- in ebook, audiobook and paperback bundle for one price!

• Pre-Order Package

Subscribe here for early release info and discounts on all new releases!

A life-long resident of New York's haunted Hudson Valley, JG Faherty has been a finalist for both the Bram Stoker Award and ITW Thriller Award, and he is the author of 9 novels, 11 novellas, and more than 80 short stories. He writes adult and YA horror, science fiction, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. He grew up enthralled with the horror movies and books of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, and as a child his favorite playground was a 17th-century cemetery. Which explains a lot. 

Follow him at www.twitter.com/jgfaherty, www.facebook.com/jgfaherty, and www.jgfaherty.com. 

For more information, visit JG Faherty's author page at Lycan Valley!

NEW RELEASE: The Hidden by JG Faherty

 

Cartel assassins, venomous lizards, primitive clans with unimaginable powers, an erupting volcano...

Dr. Annika Vahle is on the verge of a discovery that will rock the world of anthropology. She's about to uncover proof of an ancient hominid species still alive on the Indonesian island of Flores.

The only things that stand in her way are cartel assassins, venomous lizards, a primitive clan that possesses unimaginable powers, and a volcano that is ready to erupt. Oh, and the appearance of her ex-boyfriend.

Her expedition quickly turns into a deadly nightmare. With only hours left, can she save her team and find a way to prevent the extinction of an entire race?

Available Now from Lycan Valley

Cover art by Greg Chapman. Audiobook narrated by Cara Firestone.

Available June 02, 2026 in:

• eBook
• Audiobook
• eBook/Audiobook Bundle
• Paperback

eBook and Audiobook release special: Use coupon code HIDDEN25 at checkout for 25% off*! 

For more information, visit JG Faherty's author page at Lycan Valley!

A life-long resident of New York's haunted Hudson Valley, JG Faherty has been a finalist for both the Bram Stoker Award and ITW Thriller Award, and he is the author of 9 novels, 11 novellas, and more than 80 short stories. He writes adult and YA horror, science fiction, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. He grew up enthralled with the horror movies and books of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s, and as a child his favorite playground was a 17th-century cemetery. Which explains a lot. 

Follow him at www.twitter.com/jgfaherty, www.facebook.com/jgfaherty, and www.jgfaherty.com. 

*Coupon code valid for ebook, audiobook and ebook/audiobook bundle only when purchased through the links above or direct from www.lycanvalley.com. Coupon code expires 5 days after release.

NEW RELEASE: Blood Alchemy by Kurt Newton

 

Possession... Obsession... Unnatural Desire...

A children's book illustrator. A rescued dog.

An alchemist with a dark secret.

Two lovers separated by thousands of years.

Past and present collide.

 

Alison is a children's book illustrator. With a deadline looming, and her husband away on a job assignment, Alison adopts a male dog from the local animal shelter for creative inspiration. Soon afterward, Alison is visited by erotic dreams of Khalid—an alchemist with a dark secret—and in these dreams, Alison is Sahlah, his wife.

A novel of romance and terror about two lovers separated by a thousand years, brought together by a dark force that's waited centuries to live and breathe… combining past with present, dreams with nightmares, and fate with circumstance to create a harrowing tale of possession, obsession, and unnatural desire.

Available Now from Lycan Valley

Cover art by Greg Chapman. Audiobook narrated by Roberta Jackson.

Available May 2026 in:

eBook

Audiobook*

eBook/Audiobook Bundle*

Paperback

For more information, visit Kurt Newton's author page at Lycan Valley!

*Please note: Audiobook is currently in production and will be sent separately as soon as it is ready.

Kurt Newton's writing has appeared in numerous magazines and anthologies over the past thirty years. He is the author of two novels, three books of short stories and nine collections of poetry. His fiction tends to lean toward illuminating the dark side of human behavior. A lifelong resident of Connecticut, he now resides in what is called the "Quiet Corner." There he lives with his wife and young son.

Pre-Order The Nightmare World by JG Faherty

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Pre-Order The Hidden by JG Faherty

 

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Pre-Order Blood Alchemy by Kurt Newton

 

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Lycan Valley at Crypticon May 1-3

Lycan Valley will be at Crypticon Seattle this weekend May 1-3.

We will have pre-release copies of Blood Alchemy by Kurt Newton and The Hidden by JG Faherty available, along with all of our most recent releases.

Can't make it to Seattle? You can pre-order Blood Alchemy and The Hidden on our website!

This year, we are also offering Darkling's Beasts and Brews, full color hardcover for $15* at the event!

*Darkling's Beasts and Brews $15 special is a Crypticon Exclusive pricing and only available at the event and wile supplies last. Regularly priced at $40.
 

Quantum Corsets Queer Imprint

 

Welcome to Quantum Corsets, Lycan Valley’s newest imprint featuring queer fiction written by queer authors.

What is Quantum Corsets?

‘Quantum’ references significant energy and momentum 

‘Corsets’ represents empowerment and self-expression without constraints

‘Queer’ is intended to be all inclusive of the LGBTQ2+ community and fluidity, while rejecting restrictive labels and challenging societal norms

Quantum Corsets Content

Quantum Corsets will publish horror, dark fiction, mystery, thriller, suspense, cultural, and mixed genre novels, novellas and collections for adult, young adult and middle grade readers.

We are not looking for pure romance or porn. These elements may be present as appropriate within the story, but should not be the main genre.

Although Pink Triangle Rhapsody focused specifically on the gay male experience, the anthology would fit in perfectly with Quantum Corsets and is a great sampling of the energy, self-expression and queerness we’re looking for with this imprint.

Own Voices Only

While Lycan Valley acknowledges and accepts that writers can create believable and compelling characters unlike themselves, Quantum Corsets will publish Own Voices only (others may still submit to Lycan Valley during open submission periods).

This means all Quantum Corsets authors have a shared identity with their main characters and the story comes from authentic perspective, experience and understanding. 

Open Submission Period

Quantum Corsets will open to public submissions for novellas beginning February 1 and closing June 30. Guidelines and addition information can be found on our submission portal.

Follow Quantum Corsets on Facebook and Instagram.

Familial Reflections Anthology Campaign

 

Familial Reflections...

An anthology of familial horror reflecting and exploring relationships in terms of love/hate, light/dark, good/evil.

Horrific stories of sibling rivalry, sibling love, fathers and sons, parents and children...

Terrifying stories by Richard Thomas, Michael Bailey, Stephen King, Richard Chizmar, Justin Zimmerman and Mercedes Yardley.

Chilling poetry by Erin Al-Mehairi, Wrath James White, Maxwell Ian Gold and Maria Alexander with an introduction by John Palisano

Cover art by George Contronis

*Initial Funding Goal: $5,000

Exclusive Perks and Rewards

In addition to the usual campaign perks, we've added two exclusive campaign perks:

Familial Reflections Hardcover: Limited quantities, only available during the campaign, included with the Familial Reflections Complete Package

Family Murders Trilogy Hardcover: A series of three flash fiction anthologies—A Mother's Love, Fatherly Instincts, Family Memories—brought together in one complete color hardcover honoring Mother's Day, Father's Day and Grandparents Day with Murder, Mayhem, Malice and Mischief! Bonus content added from Carl Jennings, Mercedes Yardley, Mackenzie Johnston, Jay Faulkner (RIP), Craig Spector and Luke Spooner. This special edition hardcover is only available through the contributors (and this campaign).

Additional funding to include original artwork by Orion Zangara Art

*Stretch Goal #1: Once funding reaches $5,000, we will add original artwork to each of the four poems in the anthology.

*Stretch Goal #2: Once funding reaches $6,000, artwork will be added to every story in the anthology.

Any and all additional funds raised beyond this will be used by Lycan Valley to directly pay authors and illustrators for on-going projects.

Lycan Valley is against the use of Gen AI and will never use or consider works, written or illustrated, that have been generated by or with the help of AI. We only support human writers, artists and narrators.

 

Exciting announcements and updates for 2026 coming from Lycan Valley in our next newsletter (coming Tuesday)! 

If you're not on the subscription list, you can sign up here: http://www.lycanvalley.com/p/contact-us.html