Poets in Hell: A Heroes in Hell Anthology Compiled by Janet Morris + giveaway

In the underworlds, injustice always reigns: Join us and our damnedest poets for the crookedest poetry festival in perdition where language comes to die and no rhyme goes unpunished.

Poets in Hell: A Heroes in Hell Anthology

Compiled by Janet Morris
Genre: Dark Epic Historical Fantasy
The best, the worst, and ugliest bards in perdition vie for Satan's favor as poets slam one another, Satan's Fallen Angels smirk up their sleeves, and the illiterati have their day. Find out why the damned deserve their fates as Hell's hacks sink to new poetical depths!

The first Bible writer drafts a deal with the Devil.

Attila the Hun learns his punishment's just begun.

Mary Shelley and Victor Frankenstein make a monstrous mistake.

Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp get their unjust deserts.

Hell's Undertaker goes on holiday.

The Damned Poets Society slams away.

A nameless soul shows Dorothy Parker that fame is a bitch.

In the underworlds, injustice always reigns:

Join us and our damnedest poets for the crookedest poetry festival in perdition where language comes to die and no rhyme goes unpunished. 

Stories inside:

• Words - Chris Morris
• Seven Against Hell - Janet Morris and Chris Morris
• Reunion - Nancy Asire
• Hell-hounds - Bruce Durham
• The Kid with No Name - Jack William Finley
• All Hell to Pay - Deborah Koren
• Poetic Injustice - Larry Atchley, Jr.
• When You Gaze Into an Abyss - Matthew Kirshenblatt
• Pride and Penance - Tom Barczak
• Grand Slam - pdmac
• Undertaker’s Holiday - Joe Bonadonna and Shebat Legion
• Red Tail’s Corner - Yelle Hughes
• Faust III - Richard Groller
• Tapestry of Sorrows and Sighs - Bill Snider
• Haiku d’État - Beth W. Patterson
• A Mother’s Heart - Bill Barnhill
• We the Furious - Joe Bonadonna
• Damned Poets Society - Michael H. Hanson
• All We Need of Hell - Michael A. Armstrong

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Excerpt from Poets in Hell
Words by Chris Morris
In the beginning was the Logos, the Word. In the beginning come always the words. Words are the mortar of the mind.

“Look, you!” J the Yahwist, first author of the Old Testament, exhorted empty air, waving her hands about her on a blasted heath encircled by dark and cold.

As in ancient times, this command brings light out of darkness, souls out of nowhere. All the heath fills with them, the detritus of the damned, singing and keening and rhyming aloud at the top of their lungs, each trying to outshout the other: the prolix, the wordy damned of perdition. Here are the teeming illiterati, the poor poets of pride and ignorance, angry and bleating like sheep at the altar, romancers of death, hoping for slaughter, dreaming of surcease.

J would give them peace if she could, but she couldn’t: peace was oblivion, oblivion was escape, and escape was unattainable in hell. Death could be had, and cheap, but never lasted long: no sinning soul could win its way to heaven’s grace.

J’s god reigned as a jealous god, tempestuous; unfair, equivocal. As her skin glowed caramel, neither white nor yellow, brown or black, so her eyes were inconclusively hazel, flecking every color in creation. Like her god on high, set up from eternity before the earth was made, she belonged nowhere in damnation, not to this New Hell nor any other. She was only visiting here. Or so she thought; so she hoped.

“Look, you,” J called a second time aloud, and a thousand heads turned her way; a thousand mouths clamped shut as she began to tell her tale to their minds’ eyes.

Invariably, these words are her signal to infernity that she is ready to begin. Inevitably, those words summon not only story, but the Deceiver, a lord of hell himself.

Sensing joy, incensed by pleasure, now comes Satan, white- winged and glorious, amid his host of fallen angels, circling to land, streaming intolerance and wrath on all the fools below, who howl the more.

At times like these, J misses Solomon. That wise warrior-king (her fellow writer of words worth hearing) would enjoin even such rabble as this to vie with the lords of hell themselves, if she’d but ask him.

About the Authors:
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Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and has since published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris or others. Most of her fiction work has been in the fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national security topics.

Christopher Crosby Morris (born 1946) is an American author of fiction and non-fiction, as well as a lyricist, musical composer, and singer-songwriter. He is married to author Janet Morris. He is a defense policy and strategy analyst and a principal in M2 Technologies, Inc. He writes primarily as Chris Morris, but occasionally uses pseudonyms.

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Excerpt: Oaths and Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya Book One) by Susan Illene + giveaway

Oaths and Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya Book One) 
by Susan Illene 
August 22nd, 2025
Genre: Romantasy
ISBN: 979-8-9876902-3-9
ASIN: B0F6D6566B
Number of pages: 505
Word Count: 148,000
Cover Artist: Hannah Sternjakob
Darrow has so many secrets that even those closest to him don't know them all, but she's about to become his favorite. He is powerful, ruthless, and her sworn enemy. The wickedly good-looking elf is also cursed never to love.

Aella should stay far away from him, especially considering he could kill her from a distance with little effort. Except that someone close to her is dying, and he is the only person in the realm with the means to help. She has strong powers of her own to offer in exchange, but to her dismay, Darrow wants a secret marriage as part of the bargain.

Fae marriages are forever, so she'd always be his.

With other factors pushing her toward it, she agrees to a private wedding that the king himself officiates while hiding the ceremony from her disapproving family. Aella suspects there is far more to Darrow’s motives if Zadrya's monarch is involved. It isn't long before she discovers that dark forces are circling, and it’s her rare magic they want to use or eradicate by any means necessary. Her new husband has drawn her into a dangerous conflict started centuries ago that could either end in the salvation or destruction of their world. If she wants to survive, she’ll need to trust Darrow with her body, but never her heart.

Note- This novel is an enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn romantasy. It contains adult content, including violence, foul language, spicy scenes, torture, and ruthless plants and creatures. Read at your own discretion.

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Excerpt:
My guard and I had reached the most ideal point to observe the battle, and my uncle’s forces had just clashed with our enemy. Swords rang as soldiers attacked each other, and flashes of magic in various forms and colors flew across the ranks. Some would blind opponents, others would cause pain, and still more would cause various injuries or afflictions. Fae battles were merciless and gruesome. We were on higher ground, which gave us a clear view of the terrible things they did to each other.

Normally, our army would have used offensive range magic first, but there was no time to prepare. Instead, it came down to a close-quarter battle in which our enemy excelled.

One man stood out on a large dapple-gray mount. His hair was a brindled mixture of brown and onyx black, sunlight glinting from the strands hanging over the sides of his face. His shoulders were broad. I knew that for certain because, unlike everyone else on the battlefield, he only wore light armor without the heavy metal plates most preferred for protection. His olive and black Veronnian army uniform was snug, molding around his muscular build. I wished I could see the details of his face, but the distance was too great for that.

He raised his arms toward the Therressian frontline, fingers outstretched. I watched in horror as six of our foot soldiers lifted into the air, kicking their feet but finding no purchase. With a twist of his hands, their heads spun clockwise until their necks cracked. They fell to the ground in a heap, dead before impact.

I gasped, realizing who he must be. “Is that Lord Gannon’s second son, Darrow?”

“It is.” My guard’s lips thinned. “It’s been years since we last faced him, and it's bad news for us that he’s here today.”

“He’ll decimate us at the rate he can kill,” I whispered, a chill running down my spine.

The soldier’s eyes reflected the same anxiety I felt. “It appears that way.”

Darrow was his father’s second son from a subsequent marriage after his first wife died in childbirth. He was known to be powerful and ruthless on the battlefield. The fact that he was half dark elf made him especially dangerous because they weren’t known for compassion or mercy. He and his twin sister had been the products of a failed peace treaty agreement between our realm, Zadrya, and Karganoth—the realm of the dark elves that lay across the sea to the west.

I recalled that he had fought in battles against us during the first few years I’d begun opening portals. The last time I could remember seeing him was over a decade ago, when I was in my early twenties. He’d been a ruthless killer even back then but couldn’t break that many men simultaneously before. Like most fae, he would continue growing stronger for a few more years until he reached fifty and peaked.

I had family and friends out there who would die if this elf targeted them. No one on our side had magic that could counteract Darrow’s without getting too close, but of course, he was surrounded by elite soldiers so that he could do his dirty work without interference.

A risky idea occurred to me. There was something I could do if I were brave enough, and right now, I needed to push past my usually passive role. Too many people would die if I didn’t.

When a high fae’s magic first appeared as an adolescent, they could only perform lesser spells that were a prelude to something bigger that would develop over the coming year. I started with wind and light power, which later combined to form portal channeling. Although I rarely had cause to use those, I did practice them since they worked well as a defense when I needed them, especially wind.

Darrow was lifting another handful of our soldiers into the air. If I didn’t hit him immediately, they’d die in the next few moments. I let go of Astra’s reins and raised my hands, focusing on the half-light/half-dark elf, and pulled the air around me. In a streamlined burst, I sent it straight at him.

Just as he began to twist his hands to kill the soldiers, it struck him full in the chest. He went flying backward off his horse. The Therressian soldiers he’d targeted next dropped to the ground at the same time—shaken but alive. Darrow landed on his butt ten feet behind his mount and skidded to a stop in a plume of dust.

I grinned, pleased that years of weekly practice with my wind power had finally paid off. That was far more satisfying than directing it at leaves and other inanimate objects. I had used it in self-defense a time or two, but never at such a distance.

“Well done, my lady,” my guard said, giving me a respectful nod. “That certainly distracted him and gave our people a chance.”

“Thank you.”

We watched with rapt attention as Darrow slowly rose to his feet and dusted off his uniform. I still couldn’t make out his features, but his rigid body language told me he was not pleased with what I’d done. He ran his gaze around his surroundings until it eventually fell on me. I waved and blew him a kiss.

Darrow lifted one arm toward me, and a moment later, I rose off my horse to hover a few feet above my mount. Shock filled me. I’d never dreamed he could extend his magic so far, but I couldn’t do anything to stop him. My heart raced as he slowly brought me forward like he had strings pulling me.

My guard’s voice sounded panicked as I floated away from Astra and him. “Lady Aella? Are you alright? What can I do?”

“I…uh,” I began.

My braid lifted and wrapped around my head, gagging my mouth. The floral taste of my cleanser coated my tongue. My locks stretched taut, pulling at my scalp enough to cause discomfort but not quite pain. With all my limbs immobilized, I couldn’t free myself. Did he seriously muzzle me with my own hair? Lord Gannon’s son was toying with me in the middle of a battle like I was a toy, but I couldn’t let him get away with it without a response.

I forced myself to calm down and think. Darrow hadn’t gripped my body so tightly that I couldn’t breathe or make minute movements. Slowly spreading my fingers, I gathered the surrounding air once more. After I gained enough, I hit him with a burst of wind again. It didn’t slam into him as hard as the first time, but it did send him stumbling back. The hold on me evaporated. I dropped to the ground, knees buckling, and my breath nearly knocked from me. At least nothing was broken.

“It’s okay,” I said, hands trembling as I straightened. “He had me for a moment there.”

“Perhaps you shouldn’t draw his attention again,” my guard advised.

I cleared my throat, hoping no one else saw what happened. “Yeah. I think that was more than enough distraction.”

About the Author: 
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Susan Illene served in the U.S. Army for eleven years, working first as a human resources specialist and later as an Arabic linguist. She served primarily in Airborne units and did two deployments to Iraq. After leaving the army, she studied history at the University of Oklahoma. She currently lives with her husband and two sons. 

 

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Their lands have fought for centuries, but now Aella needs a favor from her enemy. Darrow is a powerful and ruthless elf who could break her with a thought. What is she to do when he insists on a secret marriage as part of the bargain? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0F6D6566B
#romantasy #enemiestolovers #slowburn #spicy

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Tales From the Cursed Edge (Dark Stories of Swords and Sorcery: An Edge Weaver Anthology) + giveaway

Step beyond the threshold of safety and discover what lies beyond . . . the Cursed Edge.

Six gripping tales of courage, sacrifice & redemption await on the precipice between salvation and damnation.

Tales From the Cursed Edge (Dark Stories of Swords and Sorcery: An Edge Weaver Anthology) 
Created by Marie Ito
Stories by Michael Magistro, James Andrews, W.E. Wertenbeger, Rob D. Smith, Jack Finn, JP Wilder, Chris Mason
May 15, 2025
Where light fails, heroes are forged in darkness. 

Six gripping tales of courage, sacrifice, and redemption await on the precipice between salvation and damnation. Each story draws you deeper into a world where magic flows like blood and monsters prowl the shadows.

Journey with unlikely heroes thrust into extraordinary circumstances—a mundane worker transported to a realm of danger and destiny, a mighty king confronting the terrible price of power, a battle-hardened mercenary facing the ghosts of his past, a loyal emissary venturing into enemy territory with nothing but faith, two companions racing against time to prevent an ancient evil’s return, and a lone holy warrior seeking divine aid against a darkness that threatens all creation.

These tales explore the moments that define us: when fear must yield to courage, when ordinary souls rise to extraordinary challenges, and when the darkness seems insurmountable, but the flame of hope refuses to die.

From master storytellers Michael Magistro, James Andrews, W.E. Wertenberger, Rob D. Smith, Jack Finn, JP Wilder, and Chris Mason comes an anthology that will transport you to lands where magic and monsters reign, and where heroes are forged in the fires of adversity.

Step beyond the threshold of safety, and discover what lies beyond . . . the Cursed Edge. 

The Savage Rat Lord by Michael Magistro:
A young fast-food worker falls into another world and finds his true calling in a desperate village.

Denmýr by James Andrew:
A powerful warrior king faces dark truths about his family’s bloody legacy and his ancestral sword. 

The Many Mouths of the Endless Night by W.E. Wertenberger & Rob D. Smith:
A mercenary confronts childhood guilt in a city where rat-controlling street urchins stalk the night.

The Last Emissary by Jack Finn:
A desperate kingdom sends its final messenger to a usurper’s court in a last attempt to end a brutal war. 

The Black Altar by JP Wilder:
Two companions discover a dark artifact tied to an ancient cult seeking to open a forbidden gateway.
 

Heroes Never Die by Chris Mason:
A lone paladin, survivor of a sacred order, embarks on a quest to reclaim divine power against cosmic horror.

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Michael Magistro is a Clovis, California-based author with deep roots in the vibrant Bay Area. When not managing regional operations for a Fortune 150 company, Michael channels his passion into crafting compelling narratives that explore themes of redemption, legacy, rebirth, and the enduring search for hope in the darkest of times. Outside of his professional and creative pursuits, he enjoys powerlifting, devouring a wide range of media, and cherishing moments with his family.

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James Andrews is a full time artist and designer living in the Northeastern United States. This is the first step in his journey as an author and he has many more stories to tell. When he's not sculpting dragons, drawing comics, or writing, he spends all the rest of his time with his golden retriever and his cat.

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W.E. Wertenberger is a writer of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Crime fiction. He grew up in Northern Ohio and currently lives and works in Kentucky. His most recent work has appeared in Savage Realms Monthly and Cirsova Magazine.

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Rob D. Smith wanted to weave tales as soon as he plucked his first Fantastic Four comic book off the grocery store spinner rack. He honed his imagination with scribbled drawings in notebooks creating intricate stories where he learned that his imagination was far greater than his art skills. Words became his way of exploring the weird worlds in his mind. Since then, he has had wide success in the crime, horror, fantasy, and weird fiction genres.

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Jack Finn is a folk horror author and member of the Horror Writers Association. He lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and two clever dogs. His debut novel, The Seven Deaths of Prince Vlad (Anuci Press, 2024), explores dark and thrilling themes. In 2025, Jack’s werewolf duology—Prey Upon the Lambs (April) and The Desolation of Hunters (September)—will be released by Anuci Press, along with They Come When You Are Asleep, an anthology of his short stories (Velox Books). His work has appeared in notable horror collections, including Doors of Darkness, Horroscope 4, Twelve Months of Horror, and more. 

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JP Wilder also known as JP Vile, is a versatile author and academic specializing in fantasy, science fiction, and pulp genres. Best known for his Crusader series and Hunter Caine Pulp Stories, Wilder delves into themes of war, honor, betrayal, and redemption through action-packed storytelling. He has contributed essays and introductions to the Edge Weaver Classics series, covering iconic works like A Princess of Mars and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Wilder also explores historical mysteries and survival strategies in his academic works. Holding an MBA and an MFA in Creative Writing, he enriches his narratives with profound historical depth.

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Chris Mason is a fantasy and sci fi writer hailing from Jackson, Mississippi. He is the author of The Stars Fell (Science Fiction), as well as The Dark Rider (Dark Fantasy). A fan of epic storytelling centered around good versus evil, he can usually be found gaming on his couch with his cats, Quincy and Rocky, or traveling in search of new inspiration.

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Choice of print or ebook copy of Tales From the Cursed Edge,
$25 Amazon giftcard 
– 1 winner each!

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Paranormal fantasy: The Late-Night Witches by Auralee Wallace

"You'll fall deeply in love with this enchanting and cozy book, so much so that you’ll want to return to it every fall just to experience it again!"—New York Times bestselling author Breanne Randall

The Late-Night Witches
by Auralee Wallace
August 19, 2025
Genre: contemporary fantasy, paranormal, action fantasy
An enchantingly warm and funny novel about family, love lost and found, discovering who you are, and how difficult it is to slay a vampire from the beloved national bestselling author of the TikTok sensation In the Company of Witches.

Cassie Beckett’s life is anything but magical. With a wild younger sister, three unruly kids, and an absent husband, she’s really not looking forward to the witching month of October. At least the gorgeous, foggy Prince Edward Island is always quiet.

That is, until the vampires arrive.

As the creatures sink their teeth into Cassie’s tenuous grip on normalcy, she’s forced to come face-to-face with long–disregarded family secrets. The legacy gifts her with power, but also a lofty responsibility: rid the island of vampires, or let them win. (Both options suck, in more ways than one.)

Armed with her family, newfound friends, and a baby in a spectacularly garlicky onesie, Cassie must learn what it is to be a witch and how to fight for what she loves before time runs out. Because on Halloween night, the stakes will be higher than ever before...and it’s up to Cassie to finish what the witches that came generations before her started. 

Early Praise for THE LATE-NIGHT WITCHES
“A spellbinding adventure of real heart and humour. The Late-Night Witches is packed with fun nostalgia, a picturesque autumn setting, and loveable characters that I was rooting for from the very first Jack O’Lantern. I loved spending Halloween with the Beckett witches!”
—Lucy Jane Wood, author of Rewitched

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Praise for In the Company of Witches
“Fans of the paranormal will enjoy the series debut of the Warrens, who go way beyond quirky.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“More than just a grown-up riff on Sabrina the Teenage Witch in the form of a charming cozy murder mystery, In the Company of Witches is a surprisingly thoughtful meditation on family, forgiveness, and grief.”
—Criminal Element

“This is the perfect blend of mystery, magic, and mayhem.”
—New York Times bestselling author Sofie Kelly

“A fun and compelling mystery…. A welcome addition to the magical cozy genre.”
—New York Times bestselling author Juliet Blackwell

About the Author
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Auralee Wallace is the author of multiple novels, including the Otter Lake mystery series and the Evenfall Witches B&B Mysteries. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in English literature, and she worked in the publishing industry for a number of years before teaching at the college level. When this perpetually sleep-deprived mother of three children and one rescue cat isn’t writing, reading, or playing soccer, she can be found watching BBC mysteries and warring with a family of peregrine falcons for the rights to her backyard. 

Mexican Gothic Horror: The Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel Cañas

The Possession of Alba Díaz
by Isabel Cañas
August 19, 2025
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Gothic fiction, vampires, horror, Mexican Gothic,
When a demonic presence awakens deep in a Mexican silver mine, the young woman it seizes must turn to the one man she shouldn’t trust…from bestselling author Isabel Cañas.

In 1765, plague sweeps through Zacatecas. Alba flees with her wealthy merchant parents and fiancé, Carlos, to his family’s isolated mine for refuge. But safety proves fleeting as other dangers soon bare their teeth: Alba begins suffering from strange hallucinations, sleepwalking, and violent convulsions. She senses something cold lurking beneath her skin. Something angry. Something wrong.

Elías, haunted by a troubled past, came to the New World to make his fortune and escape his family’s legacy of greed. Alba, as his cousin’s betrothed, is none of his business. Which is of course why he can’t help but notice the growing tension between them every time she enters the room…and why he notices her deteriorate when the demon’s thirst for blood gets stronger.

In the fight for her life, Alba and Elías become entangled with the occult, the Church, long-kept secrets, and each other… not knowing that one of these things will spell their doom. 

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Isabel Cañas’ Mexican Gothic-meets-The Exorcist new novel, THE POSSESSION OF ALBA DÍAZ (Berkley Hardcover; August 19, 2025) has been building buzz all summer, and now finished books have arrived—would you like one?

**BookRiot put it best: “Any book that combines blood-thirsty demons, the church, and the occult is one I’m going to need in my greedy little hands.”

**Publishers Weekly said: “chilling.... the richly layered narrative offers much to hold readers’ interest as it probes themes of colonialism, patriarchy, and autonomy.” 

**Isabel will be the cover story of Writer’s Digest in the September/October issue ** “Isabel Cañas has quickly become a superstar of historical fiction, and this one looks like the best yet!”—CrimeReads 

About the Author:
website-FB-Twitter
InstagramIsabel Cañas is the breakout writer of horror novels including The Hacienda (2022), Vampires of El Norte (2023), and now The Possession of Alba Díaz (August 19, 2025). She is best known for reclaiming traditional horror tropes, once the sole playground of “pale and male” writers, and giving them a feminist and Latinx perspective. A rising star who will be on the cover of Writer’s Digest this September/October, Isabel has cemented her status as an exciting, dynamic author at the forefront of the horror wave with her signature blend of frightening set pieces, well-researched and insightful takes on the history of Mexico, and a temperature-raising romance between lead characters. She has been praised by outlets like The New York Times “a thing of uncanny, chilling beauty”, NPR (“one of the best new voices bridging the gap between romance and speculative fiction”), Vulture, Esquire, Paste, The Washington Post, and many more.