Ugly Little Things: Collected Horrors

by Todd Keisling, Mercedes M. Yardley (Introduction)

Overview

THIS IS GOING TO HURT.

The eleven stories in Ugly Little Things explore the depths of human suffering and ugliness, charting a course to the dark, horrific heart of the human condition. The terrors of everyday existence are laid bare in this eerie collection of short fiction from the twisted mind of Todd Keisling, author of the critically-acclaimed novels A Life Transparent and The Liminal Man.

Travel between the highways of America in “The Otherland Express,” where a tribe of the forsaken and forlorn meet to exchange identities. Witness the cold vacuum of space manifest in the flesh in “The Darkness Between Dead Stars.” Step into the scrub of rural Arizona and join Karen Singleton’s struggle to save her husband from a cult of religious fanatics in “When Karen Met Her Mountain.” Visit the small town of Dalton in “The Harbinger” and join Felix Proust as he uncovers the vile secrets rooted at the heart of Dalton Dollworks. And in the critically-acclaimed novella “The Final Reconciliation,” learn the horrifying truth behind the demise of the rock band The Yellow Kings.

With an introduction by Bram Stoker Award-winner Mercedes M. Yardley and illustrations by Luke Spooner, Ugly Little Things will be your atlas, guiding you along a lonely road of sorrow, loss, and regret. This is going to hurt—and you’re going to like it.

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing - Tales from the Darkest Depths.

Interview with the Author:

What makes this collection of horror stories so special?
Todd Keisling: These stories represent some of the darkest fiction I’ve ever written. I was in a bad place when I wrote most of them, and I put my thoughts to paper with the intention of sharing my dread with potential readers. These stories will cut deeply. They’ll make you weep and they’ll make you bleed.

Tell us more about the theme you were going for in this horror collection?
Todd Keisling: There’s a story in the collection, “The Harbinger,” which is about a doll maker who infuses her creations with the pain of her victims. The title “Ugly Little Things” comes from that story, as each tale in the collection is intended to be one of those dolls, each filled to the brim with the darker qualities of the human condition.

Categories:

• Horror
• Horror Short Stories
• Horror collection
• Thriller
• Suspense
• Weird Fiction
• Dark Fantasy
• Short Fiction
• Single Author Collection
• Speculative
• Literary Horror
• Occult

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640074729
Publisher:	Crystal Lake Publishing
Publication date:	09/14/2017
Pages:	432
Sales rank:	1,152,508
Product dimensions:	5.06(w) x 7.81(h) x 0.88(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword by Mercedes M. Yardley

A Man in Your Garden

Show Me Where the Waters Fill Your Grave

Radio Free Nowhere

The Otherland Express

Saving Granny from the Devil

The Darkness between Dead Stars

Human Resources

House of Nettle and Thorn

When Karen Met Her Mountain

The Harbinger

The Final Reconciliation

Story Notes

Editorial Reviews

“Todd Keisling is a born storyteller, drawing the reader into artfully constructed narratives that scout the darker end of the literary spectrum with skill and bravado. A pleasure to read, his stories linger well after the last page has been turned. Excellent stuff.” – John Langan, author of The Fisherman



“Keisling writes in the shadows, his words like that first long drag on a cigarette after work. I couldn't help coming back for more, and before I knew it, that one story, that one cigarette, turned into the whole pack.”—Stephanie M. Wytovich, Bram Stoker award-nominated author of The Eighth.



“In Ugly Little Things, Todd Keisling ventures deep into the dark abyss of cosmic horror. What he finds there—or what’s found him—will terrify you. This varied collection is tailor-made for fans of existential dread. Prepare to face the void. Try not to scream.”—Brian Kirk, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of We Are Monsters.



“Herein lie stories told in the traditional manner of spooky tales told round the campfire. Read this collection on a dark and stormy night and don't answer the door if someone knocks.”—Kristi DeMeester, author of Beneath.

From the Publisher