Oni – Japanese fantasy novelette out now

My historical Japanese fantasy adventure, Oni, is now out on Amazon (0.99c Amazon.com and 77p in the UK).

Description: Danger and desire in ancient Japan. A runaway bandit disguised as a monk must defeat demons, his former bandit crew, and a devastating plague to win the heart of a woman.

“Loved this one! Romance, great characters (and a very unusual main hero), gripping tension and a menacing, horrifying enemy. I kept thinking about this story days after I read it! A” – Tara Fox Hall (reviewing the story which originally appeared in now-discontinued Warriors and Wenches anthology, written under the author’s pseudonym, JT Macleod).

I have removed DRM, which means you can put it on other devices if you don’t have a Kindle. I also want to repeat the offer I made for my paranormal romantic comedy, Dead Boyfriends (think Bridget Jones crossed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer) – I’ll send you a free copy in exchange for a review on Goodreads or your blog or other social network. Same applies if you reblog this – just drop me a line, using the contact form below.

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Dead Boyfriends out now

DEAD BOYFRIENDS
A paranormal romantic comedy
by John Dodds

Some guys won’t take “no” for an answer – even from beyond the grave.

Daisy Wentworth’s life couldn’t be better. For one thing she works as a gallery attendant who regularly has to deal with abusive visitors. For another, her opinion of herself as a “fat-arsed frump” pretty well summarises the state of her self-esteem. And not only has her latest boyfriend just died but now his ghost, and another three of her deceased lovers’ ghosts, have taken up residence in her flat.

Things seem to be looking up when handsome businessman, Carl Simmons, falls for her. The only problem is the jealous, vindictive, dead exes, who are determined that “Mr. Businessman” won’t have their girl.

Get it now on Amazon Kindle (cheap!). Anyone who’d like to review for website, blog, Goodreads, etc, just reply to this posting and I’ll send you a copy.

Cover photography: Amani AlShaali

 

The Anatomy of Seahorses on Tales to Terrify podcast

My tale, “The Anatomy of Seahorses” is out now in audio format in episode 69 of the excellent Tales to Terrify podcast.

As for the narration, I think it’s brilliant. Jedidiah Kalanu Shepler recounts the story in a performance not unlike Ray Winstone or even a young Michael Caine – the English bad boy character is perfectly crafted by Jed.

When the story first appeared in The Horror Express magazine a few years back, it attracted this review by Peter Tennant (of Black Static magazine) on the Whispers of Wickedness website:

“With the possible exception of the [Dear R] Koontz, The Anatomy of Seahorses by John Dodds is the finest story THE has to offer, the tale of professional tough guy and contract killer Wilbur, who is in the Far East to retrieve a valuable package for his employer. Dodds does everything right here, succeeding in the difficult task of creating a credible killer and then making him sympathetic by invoking terrors even more fundamental to the human condition. His evocation of the foreign setting is perfect too, with the spirit life woven seamlessly into the physical world, and the people given attitudes and traits convincingly at odds with our own Western world view. And Dodds’ writing grips from the very start, bringing an intriguing plot to life, providing the essential colour and sound and fury, with phrases that ring in the mind, such as the simply wonderful, ‘The corpse looked like four gallons of snot spread on a log,’ which I so wish I’d come up with myself.”

On the podcast, too, you’ll find a really nasty story called  “It’s Just Tearing Me All Apart” by O.D. Hegre, narrated by Stephen Kilpatrick, a fact article,  “Horror 101” with Kevin Lucia and a poem,  “The Taemor” by Alexei Collier.

Tales would value your comments on their website, and star ratings on itunes. The podcast is always free, though donations are welcomed to keep the podcast alive. I do hope you will consider giving Tales to Terrify your support.

Dr. North’s Wound – ebook price drop

I’ve dropped the price of the ebook version of my short story collection, Dr. North’s Wound and Other Stories, to $0.99 USD (previously $2.99). Here’s the description – I hope you will consider picking up a copy.

Steampunk science fiction, supernatural and psychological horror, ghost stories, crime and magical realism. Eleven tales that take their protagonists to the very edge of the world they know – and then over it. “One of the most promising new writers I have read for some time. I highly recommend his work.” – Michael Moorcock.