The time has come to announce a new direction for my writing, and in truth, it is long overdue. My collection Slash of Crimson and Other Stories, will not be published with Charon Coin Press as originally contracted. I wish to emphasize that this is due to circumstances beyond my or the publisher’s control, and also wish to add that I maintain a great relationship with the staff at Charon Coin. Jerry Benns and Margie Colton have become friends, and Margie has done amazing work editing the collection. When the book does get released, its quality will certainly owe much to their efforts. The good news is that there are some excellent prospects for the collection finding a new home. Alas, I regret being cryptic once again about the details, but such is necessary. As soon as I am able (and reasonably soon I hope), I will make a new announcement. I wish to express gratitude to everyone who has taken an interest in this project, to friends and colleagues, to readers and reviewers. Your patience is very much appreciated. I look forward to making good on the promise that what we’ve put together will be worth the wait. In the meantime, as we enter into the final months of 2016, I was thinking it might be fun to create a kind of ‘Best of Crimes of Heaven and Hell’ page, celebrating this arrival at a personal crossroads. Let’s hope the devil shows up to sign ancient curses with fresh blood, and remind us that wherever we might go, the higher the winnings, the more hell there is to pay.

Below find links to the five most popular Crimes of Heaven and Hell posts, based on the number of hits at the time they were posted. Thanks and enjoy!

One: Beauty’s Edge–The True Nature of Jack Ketchum’s OFF SEASON An essay about Jack Ketchum’s early novel that segues into contrasting different aesthetics within New England horror stories. I owe thanks to Adam Millard of thisishorror.co.uk for picking this essay last September for one of their best five horror picks on the web for that week.

Two: Review of Wrath James White’s THE RESURRECTIONIST A review of Wrath James White’s The Resurrectionist. It was a thrill to get a nice note from the author on this one. Author responses to reviews are like buybacks at a bar. You never ask, but it’s pure rock’n’roll when it happens.

Three: In Memory of Patricia Lissey-Moore A bittersweet farewell to my mother when she passed away in 2013. A personal essay with horror elements that honestly some readers thought a peculiar send-off, and yet, in our family, is wholly apropos.

Four: Watching my wife watch THE VIKINGS Let’s face it, my wife watching Vikings is hot.

Five: Vintage Review on a Darkly Dreamy Sunday Afternoon This essay about a partial biography of psychedelic rock singer Nico’s last days was also posted on Amazon, where it got quite a few helpful review marks, as well as many views here. While not ostensibly horror-related, upon pondering, one might glimpse brooding shadows and menacing currents within.

Thanks again to all who’ve taken an interest in The Crimes of Heaven and Hell. Emails can be sent to yggsdrasil@gmail.com, and I can also be found on Facebook as Carl Moore.