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Now Available!
Sideshow Press Publications and David Greske are pleased to announce the publication of A Fistful of Zombies. A Fistful of Zombies is an illustrated chapbook containing three zombie-themed stories intertwined with a common element. The chapbook is limited to 100 signed and numbered copies. The deluxe edition is limited to 30 signed and numbered copies and includes a bonus story.
From David Greske comes three dark, visceral tales of gut-munching zombie mayhem. In a world overcome with the ravenous living dead, the remaining humans serve only to sustain undead appetites as their havens are invaded by the creatures. No place is safe, including…
…a church, as a devoted Father opens up the doors to a rag-tag group of sinners to save them from the the devil’s disease…
…a prison, as a reporter travels the blood-soaked corridors searching for an answer to a recent rash of mass canibalistic killings by crazed inmates…
…the family home as a father copes with the consequences of his efforts to survive…
A Lamon-esque trip into the world of the undead, A FISTFUL OF ZOMBIES is sure to satisfy the appetite of zombie fans.
This trade paperback is signed by the author and limited to 100 numbered copies.
Illustrated by Meghan Hakes and Tom Moran
54 pages
(*NOTE: A hardcover version will be available on or before May 7th)
ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY! www.sideshowpressonline.com
REGARDING BLOOD RIVER...
For Immediate Release
Charles River Press
Contact: Jonathan Womack (508) 364-9851
jwomack@charlesriverpress.com
Local Author's Gothic Background Cast in
Dark Shadows
“David Greske pens a visceral and sexy horror tale that turns many popular
genre conventions on their heads and keeps the reader turning pages. Blood
River is a slick-paced, fun romp that twists the best aspects of this popular subgenre,both cinematic and literary, into a grisly-slur of horror goodness.”
-Tom Moran, Publisher, Sideshow Press
(MINNEAPOLIS, November 3, 2009) - “When the rain of blood begins, the reign
of blood will end.” When local author David Greske watched his first Saturday
afternoon creature-feature as a young boy, he was hooked. At age seven, he
penned his first short story, an alternate take on a classic ‘Dark Shadows’
episode.
Today, after three novels and numerous short stories to his credit, Greske’s
fourth novel, Blood River (Charles River Press, Nov. 2009), takes vampires to
an unexplored level. Greske blends Gothic-fantasy and mainstream-horror
elements into a dark thriller featuring a small town, albino-vixen with a taste for
blood and mayhem.
Raised in rural Wisconsin, Greske wrote for his campus newspaper at the
University at River Falls where he attended classes. "Making Make-believe
Believable," his opinionated article regarding the importance of creating realistic
settings in an unrealistic world, was published by the popular on-line magazine,
Wicked Karnival. His short stories have appeared in Black Ink Horror, Back
Roads, and Thirteen. Greske resides in Minneapolis where he is currently at
work on his fifth novel, Black Nylon.
# # #
First review for Blood River
Special Thanks to Tom Moran, publisher of Sideshow Press for providing the early review of Blood River
Blood River
With BLOOD RIVER, David Greske does something that I didn’t think was possible; he actually renders vampires fun and cool again. The story follows a group of young adults on a road trip to Vegas. They don’t exactly make it. After picking up the mysterious and sexy albino, Annabelle, they are unwittingly lured into Blood River, a town damned by a horrible and deadly secret. Trapped in the town, the unwitting teens become the prey of an ancient evil.
The story itself mingles the Gothicism of classic vampire fiction with a modern viciousness more in line with contemporary depictions of the blood-loving ghouls. Those fond of classic bloodsucker films of ‘60s cinema will be hard-pressed not to envision the novel’s lead femme fatale as Hammer Film sexpot Ingrid Pitt. Greske’s villains ooze sexuality and proffer only violent death as they seduce both male and female prey, and fans of such horror lit headliners as Laymon, Keene, and Lee will feel right at home with the bloody—often gory—results.
Greske pens a visceral and sexy horror tale that turns many popular genre conventions on their heads and keeps the reader turning the pages. David jukes and dodges reader expectation at every turn, upping the expectation ante by introducing new and inventive horrors. Interesting, offbeat characters manage rise above typical cardboard monster fodder, and I actually found myself rooting for a couple to live.
BLOOD RIVER is a slickly-paced, incredibly fun romp that twists all the best aspects of this popular subgenre, both cinematic and literary, into a grisly slurry of horror goodness. Those looking for a vampire tale with real bite should definitely check this out.
Tom Moran
September 20, 2009
Review 2
Blood River by David Greske
Reviewed by Geoff Nelder
· Publisher: Charles River Press (November 2, 2009)
· ISBN-13: 978-0982094648
A group of teenagers are generous enough to pick up a drop-dead gorgeous female hitchhiker. Sadly, that was an error and the blisteringly hot weather becomes locally freezing as they discover the chills of a vampire sub-culture. This is no standard vampire story; you are taken on a veritable smorgasbord of erotic sensual blood-letting. A must read for aficionados of the genre. It seems that every vampire cliché lurks around the next page but Greske works those around formula-breaking scenarios. For example, we have become used to vampires sizzling up in daylight, but that has only been the case since early film versions of Dracula. In the Bram Stoker original novel, the vampire didn’t avoid sunshine though his powers were reduced. Hence the luscious Annabella in Blood River can be in the sun (she is said to be a minion) so we have a little though welcome departure from the stereotype.
There are some neat writerly phrases using sensory Show. For example many writers forget to use sound other than in speech but this is a nice example where your brain is obliged to trigger other memories: ‘Agnes dropped the trio of stakes next to the font ... sounded like dried bones when they slapped against each other.’
There are a few old jokes (you rent beer) and some corny sub-plot clichés but it is a fun read – made quicker by the surprise of a large typeface, and the contemporary fashion of short chapters. Of the characters, Godfrey is the one I most empathised with, and not just because it is my real first name! He carries his thoughtfulness and reading experience into the mystery to the benefit of his friends though some die before they are convinced.
Blood River would make a fine extra birthday or seasonal present for anyone you know who would hug you for an erotic bloodfest.
contact the author: DGRESKE@comcast.net
