Historical horror #TheSkintaker returns in limited edition hardcover to scare you out of your skin!

Posted on September 6, 2021 by frazerlee

He’s back!

Everyone’s favourite demonic dermatologist, The Skintaker, in a handsome, strictly limited hardcover edition.

It’s been fun (and a little bit surreal) to revisit my backlist of books, and to give them a makeover via my own imprint Reel Fearz Editions.

Last but not least to receive the hardcover treatment is The Skintaker (the prequel to my Bram Stoker Award nominated debut novel The Lamplighters), and I’m thrilled with the result. The book features black cloth binding and a matte dust jacket that feels just as luxurious as, well…. human skin.

Order your copy now & get 15% off the print price.
Use code BOOKSTORE15 (offer valid through 10 September 2021)

If you prefer a signed copy, gimme a shout on social media
or email: info(at)frazerlee(dotcom)
and we’ll work out the shipping costs & any special dedication requests.

About ‘The Skintaker’
“You have what he wants!”
Reclusive nineteen-year-old Rosie Shields hopes for a new lease of life that will free her from the stigma of her debilitating skin condition. Making a pilgrimage to the Amazon rainforest, Rosie experiences a new world beyond her wildest dreams among the mysterious Myahueneca tribe. But Rosie’s dreams soon turn to nightmares when she embarks on a ritual vision quest that takes her to the very heart of darkness. Trapped between murderous hunters and raging forest fires, Rosie is thrust into a fight for survival, a struggle that awakens an ancient evil stirring in the shadows…the demonic deity known as The Skintaker.

Praise for ‘The Skintaker’
“A grandly entertaining period horror adventure in the classical Kipling and Conrad tradition…THE SKINTAKER has never a dull moment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.” (Eric Red, writer of The Hitcher and Near Dark)

“A phenomenon in horror fiction that is truly chilling.” (Horror Novel Reviews)

“I loved this book! Filled with fabulous descriptions and fully formed characters I devoured The Skintaker in one sitting…I didn’t want the adventure to end. This was my first novel by Frazer Lee but it definitely won’t be my last. If you’re looking for a great read, grab this 5 star book and hold on for the ride.” (Horror Maiden’s Book Reviews)

For the full line-up of Reel Fears Editions limited hardcovers, check the webstore.

Thanks for reading!
Frazer x

An Audience With Guest Author Stuart R. West

Posted on July 15, 2016 by frazerlee

13608075_10208533000220126_1487223109_n I’m delighted to welcome guest author Stuart R. West to the blog today.

With superb comic timing, Stuart published his wicked novel Demon With A Comb-Over via Samhain Publishing – just as they announced they were winding down their business. But the killer punchline is all Stuart’s as he has many other exciting books for you to read, with more on the way.

Read on to learn more!

Hi Stuart, thanks for dropping by at my blog today.

SRW: Thanks for having me, Frazer! Freezy, Frazey Leezy! You like your hip-hop name? No?

I’ll stick with Lazer Free, thanks! Now – your novel Demon With a Comb-Over is a wicked blend of horror and humour. What made you settle on this hybrid genre for your book?

SRW: Frazer, it didn’t start that way. Originally, it was gonna be a straight-up horror book. But I thought, “Hey, what if the setting, the weird characters, all of that, lean toward comedy?” Seemed kinda like a no-brainer to me. Of course, some readers have thought it’s not funny. Humor’s subjective. Bring to it what you will.

The horror in the book ranges from subtle atmospheric creeps to full on guts-out (quite literally) visceral mayhem. How did you achieve the balance with this when you were writing?

SRW: I hope I did achieve it. There’s subtlety, than there’s full-on horror. Personally, I like a mixture of both. But I couldn’t write a trip to Hell without getting all up in everyone’s faces. Actually, there’re two detailed trips to the netherworlds. Readers seem to be mixed: some like the grue, others are all about the comedy. Then there are the ’hatahs. Can’t please everyone.

Charlie is a living, breathing and completely engaging protagonist, I think because he’s flawed and therefore believable. How did you dream him up and were there any real-world influences when developing his character?

SRW: Charlie’s actually me. Duh, Frazer, duh. All the foibles, the mistakes he makes, the pseudo-crimes her performs against humanity? All me. I’m putting it all out there. Don’t judge me!

I’m guessing that you are no stranger to the world of stand-up comedy. The book shows your deep knowledge of that world to great effect. Care to share any road stories? Any particularly horrific heckles?

SRW: Right you are, my friend! Actually, I only performed stand-up twice. The first time was in college. I made everything up on the go. Thing is I had a built-in audience of about 20 people—my entourage from school—following me. So they laughed. Alcohol helped. The second time? Alcohol didn’t help. I went to an open-mike night at a club, thinking I could wing it again. Didn’t work so well. Crickets didn’t even begin to explain the response. Glad I got out alive.

This is also a wild guess, but a very strong element of Comb-over is the relationship between Charlie and his daughter. Reading it, I felt sure you must not only be a parent, but father to a daughter? If so, was this helpful to you when exploring the horror of Serena being threatened in the way that she is (by a vengeance crazed demon!)?

SRW: Very astute, Frazer. Yep, I’m a father. My daughter’s now 24, but I pretty much raised her on my own. Well, that’s not true exactly; my ex was cool enough to give me 50-50 rights. But, yeah, it’s based on truth. I hope my ex never reads this post (she won’t, right?), but a lot of it is based on her – true down to the reliance of therapy, the accusations, the constant aggravation. She even told me once, “I checked over our daughter; I cleared you of abuse.” WHAT? Damn.

Another part of the novel that I enjoyed immensely was the use of the chapter headings based around the ‘rules of comedy’. “Put your fantasies out there. It makes you more relatable,” was one that stood out in particular. Care to expand on that one in the context of your writing?

SRW: Fantasies? No, that’s up to everyone else. It does seem like a lotta stand-up comedians dwell on fantasies. I believe part of the secret of comedy is making yourself relatable, saying crap everyone wants to, but doesn’t have the guts to. But the chapter headings I kinda made up. Sorry. My research assistant, “Ms. Google,” helped me with the rest.

Those chapter headings really help support the structure of the story and the thematic content of each part, and the whole. Did you work to an outline based around those headings? Or did you go with the flow and discover this later?

SRW: I’m sorry to say the headings kinda came as an after-thought. No way, Frazer, am I that smart. Just seemed right as I plowed along.

Following on from the ‘Rules of Stand-up’, what do you believe to be the core rules of writing Horror?

SRW: Make your characters human, relatable. Then toss ‘em into hellish visions. Without characters people can empathize with, a tale would be like a tossed-off nightmare, barely remembered.

Aside from a liberal sprinkling of salt around your bed each night (readers – check out Stuart’s novel for more about this!) what’s next for Stuart R. West?

SRW: Glad you asked, Frazer! I have an upcoming darkly comical novel from Grinning Skull Press called Dread & Breakfast. I’m working on the third and final book in my darkly humorous (I’m detecting a theme here) serial killer thriller series, Killers Incorporated. There’s a sequel on the way to my comedic mystery series, Bad Day in a Banana Hammock, about a vapid male stripper who keeps turning up dead bodies. The prequel to Demon with a Comb-Over, The Book of Kobal (a very dark, immoral, irreverent tale), is hunting for a new home since the original publisher, Samhain, is pretty much dead to horror. Hey! I have a children’s picture book coming out (dunno when) from Guardian Angel Press. I’d like to write a Lovecraftian/Cronenbergian horror tale about a genetic dairy farmer but it’s kinda a hard sell. Finally, up next will be a nostalgic ’60s set, Midwestern ghost tale.

Sounds like a great, diverse line-up! Thanks again for dropping by Mr. West!

SRW: Thanks for putting up with me, Frazer.

Demon with a Comb-Over available at Amazon.

Stuart R. West Amazon Page.

Blog: Twisted Tales from Tornado Alley

Stuart R. West Facebook

Twitter: @StuartRWest

“This novella expertly blends horror and mystery” 5 star review of The Leper Window from Russell James

Posted on October 5, 2015 by frazerlee

October’s chill is well and truly upon us, and more chills are forthcoming with my new occult horror novella The Leper Window (released tomorrow, October 6th through Samhain Publishing).

Check out this rather stonking review from Russell James (author of Dark Vengeance and Q Island) over at Goodreads:

“Bram Stoker Award nominee Frazer Lee delivers again in this novella that expertly blends horror and mystery, relying more on suspense than gore to keep the reader engaged, as only a master of the craft can.” (5 out of 5 stars)

Click here for the full review & to add the book to your Goodreads shelf.

See you tomorrow for an extract, some insights and…a giveaway!

Cheers,
Frazer x

Pre-order The Leper Window:

Read an exclusive extract and pre-order The Leper Window at the Samhain Horror store
(30% off for a limited time)

Also available from:

Amazon.COM

& Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Ikt2xn

Samhain Publishing: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5591/the-leper-window

Barnes & Noble NOOK BOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-leper-window-frazer-lee/1122158318?ean=9781619229082

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-leper-window

And wherever ancient demonic grimoires are sold.

goodreads-badge-add-plus-fad3b68d35050280ea55d50f17c654b5

‘Demons, chills and superb writing’ The Leper Window: early reviews & pre-orders

Posted on September 7, 2015 by frazerlee

The Leper Window, my new occult novella, is released Oct 6th by Samhain Horror.

Just in time for Halloween.

The Leper Window is the 2nd in the Daniel Gates Adventures series (which began with The Lucifer Glass) and will transport you to the haunted wilds of North Wales – and beyond into a realm of demons and ancient curses.

If you like that sort of thing then you can pre-order the book today for less than the price of a cup of coffee.

About the book:

Do not gaze into its secrets.

Daniel Gates’s last assignment involving a rare demonic book left him plagued by hideous nightmares, which are about to get even worse. When a page is stolen from Choronzon’s Grimoire, Daniel is sent to the wilds of North Wales to retrieve it for his mysterious client. But the stolen page contains dark, occult secrets, and he finds to his peril that he is not the only one desperate to find it. Daniel’s journey takes him to the very brink of madness and to the demons that await—beyond the Leper Window.

Early praise for The Leper Window:

“Demons, chills, and superb writing.”
(Cat After Dark Book Reviews)

‘The Leper Window is an interesting and creepy work…it packs an eerie punch’
(The Novel Pursuit)

And here’s what The Horror Bookshelf had to say about the Daniel Gates Adventures:

“Lee is a supreme talent when it comes to building a sense of atmosphere and that is evident not only in The Lucifer Glass, but his other works as well.…Lee has at least another two books planned in the Daniel Gates universe, but I hope the stories continue well beyond that!”
(The Horror Bookshelf)

Pre-order The Leper Window:

Read an exclusive extract and pre-order The Leper Window at the Samhain Horror store
(30% off for a limited time)

Also available from:

Amazon.COM: http://amzn.to/1JTChKM

& Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Ikt2xn

Samhain Publishing: https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5591/the-leper-window

Barnes & Noble NOOK BOOK: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-leper-window-frazer-lee/1122158318?ean=9781619229082

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-leper-window

And wherever ancient demonic grimoires are sold.

Horror Maiden’s Book Reviews gives The Skintaker the 5-star treatment!

Posted on April 8, 2015 by frazerlee

Thanks to all who joined me for The Skintaker book launch yesterday and made it such a success.

By way of celebration, a 5-star review just in from the wonderful Horror Maiden’s Book Reviews:

“I loved this book! Filled with fabulous descriptions and fully formed characters I devoured The Skintaker in one sitting…I didn’t want the adventure to end! This was my first novel by Frazer Lee but it definitely won’t be my last! If you’re looking for a great read, grab this 5 star book and hold on for the ride.”

Read the full review here – it certainly put a big smile on my face!

And remember, The Skintaker is 30% off at the Samhain Store thru April.

Sweet dreams…
Frazer

#TheSkintaker #Giveaway – and the winners are…

Posted on April 7, 2015 by frazerlee

Today is launch day for my fourth novel THE SKINTAKER, out now in ebook and paperback from Samhain Publishing.

As I always do on launch day I took some time out this morning to donate a copy of the new book to my local library. I’m lucky to have the place that inspired Roald Dahl when he wrote ‘Matilda‘ as my local book haven. And I feel honoured to have my books shelved there. I’m delighted to hear that two of my other books The Lamplighters and The Jack in the Green are out on loan!

Now, i’m also lucky that the post office is opposite the library, which made it easy for me to mail a signed copy out to the winner of my Goodreads Giveaway, who is (drum roll please…)

Amber L. of California, USA

Congrats Amber! I wish you good reads, and I sincerely hope the book gives you shivers.

A quick haircut and one cup of coffee later –
(well, it is launch day so an author can treat himself, right?)
– and it’s time to announce the 5 winners of my Skintaker ebook giveaway.

They are (another drum roll please…)
Stephanie G.
Laura F.
Tamalyn R.
Michael F.
Aiden W.

Congratulations to all the winners! You’ll receive your ebook code today so keep an eye on your Facebook account/email inbox.

Thanks to all who entered the giveaways. And if you didn’t win this time, you can still get 30% off The Skintaker using the promo code below:

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5385/the-skintaker

If you’d like to keep up to date with future giveaways, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

And i can’t wait to hear what you think of The Skintaker – please rate/review the book at Amazon and Goodreads.

Here are some advance reviews:

“A powerful novel…a phenomenon in horror fiction that is truly chilling.”
(5 out of 5 stars, Wesley Thomas, Horror Novel Reviews)

“A grandly entertaining period horror adventure in the classical Kipling and Conrad tradition…THE SKINTAKER has never a dull moment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
(Eric Red, screenwriter of NEAR DARK, THE HITCHER and author of IT WAITS BELOW and WHITE KNUCKLE)

“Fans of extreme horror will find it all very satisfying…author Frazer Lee paints his narrative so vividly.”
(5 out of 5 stars, Mallory Heart Reviews)

Thanks,
Frazer

Win 1 of 5 copies of The Skintaker. #horror #ebook #giveaway

Posted on March 30, 2015 by frazerlee

The countdown has begun – The Skintaker is released on April 7th, 2015.

To celebrate, I have 5 copies of the ebook to give away.

Enter below, please share the giveaway with your friends/followers – and good luck!

THE SKINTAKER – Rafflecopter giveaway

Eric Red (Near Dark, The Hitcher, It Waits Below) on THE SKINTAKER

Posted on March 17, 2015 by frazerlee

Thrilled to receive this glowing endorsement of my new Samhain Horror novel THE SKINTAKER from none other than Eric Red – screenwriter of the classic movies NEAR DARK and THE HITCHER, director of BAD MOON and 100 FEET, and author of IT WAITS BELOW and the forthcoming WHITE KNUCKLE.

“THE SKINTAKER is a grandly entertaining period horror adventure in the classical Kipling and Conrad tradition, supercharged with contemporary graphic horror and gore. Likeable, believable 1900s young woman Rosie Shields is a fresh change-of-pace in female driven horror on her journey into the remote Amazon rain forests to confront a gruesome pagan nightmare beyond comprehension and her own unimaginable destiny. Author Frazer Lee writes his entertaining, colorful tale at a propulsive clip, delivering cliffhanger action and blood-drenched splatter aplenty. Populated with a fun ensemble of engaging characters, set against a dangerous jungle world thrillingly invoked in picturesque detail, and loaded with grisly scenes that will test the most cast-iron of stomachs, THE SKINTAKER has never a dull moment. I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
—Eric Red, author of IT WAITS BELOW and WHITE KNUCKLE

You can pre-order THE SKINTAKER via the links here.

Read more about Eric Red at his website www.ericred.com and buy Eric’s books from Samhain Horror.

Big audiobook dynamite news!

Posted on September 4, 2014 by frazerlee

put some horror in yer headphones!

Big news today – my publisher Samhain Horror signed a deal with Audio Realms who will produce audiobooks of The Lamplighters, The Lucifer Glass, The Jack in the Green, and the forthcoming The Skintakers for release in 2015.

Audio Realms has released horror audios by the likes of Brian Keene, Ramsey Campbell, H.P. Lovecraft, Bram Stoker and many more – so to say I’m thrilled about the deal is a bit of an understatement!

More details as I get them.

(Sadly, Vincent Price is not available for narration duties. I don’t get to choose who performs the reading, but if I could my shortlist would be Doug Bradley, Robert Englund or…Christopher Lee!)