05/03/2025 Uncomfortably Dark Horror Special Report
- Candace Nola
- May 3
- 4 min read
Updated: May 4
SELF (S)CARE ANTHOLOGY PROJECT
Calling all self-published horror authors! Get those short stories ready! Open submissions begin next week for this brand-new anthology geared toward spotlighting the best in indie horror!
In this unique collaboration project, Paul Carro and Candace Nola have teamed up to create a new opportunity for self-published authors! The incredibly talented Laurel Hightower is on-board to write the foreword, and the book will be published in all formats by Uncomfortably Dark Horror.
Self (S)care Submission Guidelines
This is a paid opportunity for self-published horror stories only.
To be eligible: stories must have been published and be available for ordering, download or purchase within 2025, on a platform such as Godless, Google Books, D2D platforms or Amazon.
Submission Windows:
There will be four submission windows.
First & last windows will be slightly longer.
No submission will be accepted outside of these windows.
1. May 15 through May 31
2. Aug. 15 through Aug. 20
3. Nov. 15 through Nov. 20
4. Dec. 15 through Dec. 31
Submission Process:
Document cover page should contain Story Title and Word Count only.
Standard formatting (size 12 font, Times New Roman, 1.5 spacing).
No identifying information can be on the story document.
Email submission to: editor@uncomfortablydark.com with SELF (S)CARE in subject line with your story title.
Email body must contain your story title, word count, and prior publication details, including original date of publication, where it is available, and if it was a solo title or part of a collection.
One submission per author. (No Exceptions).
Word Count: 8500 max.
Other Details:
Reprints only. The selected stories will be paid at .02 per word.
Anticipated Release Date is April 15, 2026.
Anthology will be produced as an eBook, paperback, and audio book.
Press Release:
Uncomfortably Dark Anthology Page
COVER REVEAL
UNCOMFORTABLY DARK REVIEW TEAM APRIL STATS
MONTHLY TEAM STATS FOR APRIL:
Books Read: 48
Pages Read: 9,665
ARCs Read: 3
YEAR TO DATE STATS:
Books Read: 118
Pages Read: 25,657
ARCs Read: 12
STORYSLAVE BY BRIAN BOWYER!
AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER NOW!
STORYSLAVE
Three novelettes and a memoir from Splatterpunk Award-nominated and Godless Award-winning horror author Brian Bowyer.
SCARLETT
A serial killer uses the blood of his victims to make art—while a haunted painting made with the blood of a murdered child tells its owner that the artist is planning another painting.
COUNTDOWN TO OBLIVION
An alcoholic father, out to rescue his daughter from a psychopath, finds himself in the middle of an extinction event.
BLACK CAT BONES
A young girl and her mother escape the mother’s abusive lover to the safety of a remote cabin—where life descends further and unravels around them, as addiction and starvation lead to drastic measures that challenge both their stomachs and their minds.
Pre-order here:
RELEASES TO GODLESS ON MAY 21, EVERYWHERE ELSE ON MAY 31!
Cover Art by Christy Aldridge
GUEST REVIEW FROM SUE ROVENS
THE RATS by James Herbert
The films Willard (1971) and the sequel, Ben (1972), were my first introduction into the sub-genre of rat horror. I barely recall them as I was extremely young at the time, however, the remake of Willard starring Crispin Glover and R. Lee Ermey (2003) brings the plot and the characters into more current times and does the storyline proud. If you haven’t done so, watching the remake will be well worth your time.
So, why the movie talk when this is supposed to be a book review? Because I recently came across The Rats by James Herbert and decided to give it a whirl. I thought it might be closely tied to the origin story of Willard, so I was intrigued. Also, it’s only 197 pages long, so I thought it would be a quick read.
I was wrong.
While it’s true that the writing itself is well-crafted, I felt as if I was flailing about during the first few chapters. I couldn’t get a grasp on who was who or where my focus should be. It might have been the language/word choices (he was an English author) or some of the phrasing that threw me, but I started to question if this was going to end up in the DNF pile or not. Eventually, I managed to find the pace and the story and followed the best I could. Still, I remained unimpressed.
Chapter after chapter contains kills by the rats. No spoiler here. As the back blurb leans heavy toward the obvious, BUT, there were animal (nice animals) deaths described in detail, and that, while it served the story, wasn’t and isn’t my cup of tea. I skimmed those sections.
Also, the entire book felt very ‘one note’. Rats kill. People try to fix the problem. Rats kill again. People try other things. Repeat for the next 197 pages.
As previously stated, the writing, craft, and construction of The Rats are very good. If you are looking for something along the lines of animal horror, this would fit the bill. It’s a quick read (for some) and moves along at a decent pace. It just didn’t connect with me. Having said that, I’m glad I read it since it has long been held in high regard among lovers of the horror genre.
Recommend if you like: animal horror, body horror, creature features, English tales, gruesome prose.
Get it here:
NEW & NEXT FROM UNCOMFORTABLY DARK!
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