THE UNWORTHY by Agustina Bazterrica (to be released 3/4/25 by Scribner / 192 pages)

After escaping from 4 men who nearly kill her, a woman finds her way to a convent and joins the ranks of the sisterhood. THE UNWORTHY tells this woman’s story through diary entries (some written in her own blood), and we are given glimpses of the convent’s hierarchy as we learn the outside world has come to an end due to environmental disaster and mankind literally turning from God and worshipping artificial intelligence.

Bazterrica’s second English-translated novel might not be for everyone, but those looking for a different type of end times story may enjoy it, and don’t let the cover art fool you: this story deals with nuns, but it’s not “Nunsploitation.” This is a dark, strange, and unusual literary horror novel that will leave you contemplating where we may be headed.

Suburban Grindhouse Magazine Issue 3

 

The first two issues of SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MAGAZINE have been well received by the fanzine/underground film community (and beyond). Issue 3 will be available on December 3rd at the following link: SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MAGAZINE

Each issue contains a new installment of my SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MEMORIES column (the first 79 columns were collected in the 2019 book Suburban Grindhouse published by the UK's Headpress Publishing). Each issue also features loads of new and old film reviews, film retrospectives, and plenty of book and zine reviews.

The 4th issue, planned for June/July of 2025, will be an oversized monster featuring lots of guest writers and surprises. More news to follow...

Early reviews for AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED

 

My forthcoming novella, co-written with Andre Duza, has been receiving some great reviews over on Netgalley. Among the comments have been:

"The excitement starts right away and there are non-stop twists ... this will give you nightmares."

"This novella jumps straight into the horror."

"This is horror done in all the right ways."

"An enjoyable read, a well-crafted novella blending the urban legend of snuff films with supernatural and religious horror."

"This is a wild one..."

"I didn't know what (or who) to trust by the end of it, but it made the final scenes breathtaking to read!"

"A truly thrilling novella that has so much action and depth ... I enjoyed every second on the edge of my seat."

"I could not believe the ending and what became of our main chraracter, Gary: it was FUCKING wild! Well written and an enthralling treat of a tale."

Coming 1/14/25 from DEATH'S HEAD PRESS. Pre-order here: AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED  / trade paperback & kindle now / audiobook soon

Nick Cato and Andre Duza, authors

Suburban Grindhouse Magazine

 

People often ask me why I don't regularly publish a fanzine anymore (I did one titled STINK from 1981-1991, then random one-shot issues over the years since). There are many reasons why, but primarily it's just too costly to produce it the way it was done in the 80s, despite how cheap it looked. But seeing as there are many Amazon-produced zines out there now, I figured I'd give it a shot as it's pretty much free to produce an issue. And hence, the debut issue of SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MAGAZINE has arrived. It's basically a continuation of STINK fanzine, combined with my 2010-2018 online column SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MEMORIES (which were collected in a 2019 book published by Headpress. This magazine is not being published with that publisher).

In the debut digest-sized issue, I take a look at BLOOD FREAK (1972), an absolutely insane film that's perfect for annual Thanksgiving viewings, an overview of some great 70s euro-crime films, then THE TOUCHABLES are touched upon, plus loads of film, book, and zine reviews. Available now right here: SUBURBAN GRINDHOUSE MAGAZINE issue one

And by the time you're reading this, the second issue should be available, which features my extensive look at 70s occult films, a preview of my book dealing with the future of Midnight Movies, a rare NYC screening of Scandinavian drive in classic WITHOUT A STITCH, and a boatload of film, book, and zine reviews. Cover preview below:

Bentley Little's 30th Novel May Be His Weirdest Yet

 

BEHIND by Bentley Little (2024 Cemetery Dance Publications / 349 pages)

Little’s 30th novel continues with concepts explored in his recent novels THE HANDYMAN and GLORIA, even hinting back to ideas presented in THE HOUSE and some of his classic short stories.

After being laid off from his job during the Covid pandemic, Alex joins his (also) laid off co-worker Britta in a start up delivery service, which becomes successful. What makes them different from other delivery services? They find a niche in catering to those who request strange and rare things not found on Amazon. This lets BEHIND feature a barrage of demented characters and situations who add to Alex’ unwanted problems, including…

…it seems a “ghost house” he used to see in his yard in Maryland as a kid has returned. It now sits in his west coast back yard, and eventually not only can his wife see it, but his co-worker sees one in her own yard. And they seem to be appearing all over the place.

Alex then has to confront a strange religious man and his female harbinger who were responsible for his parent’s deaths, who along with the ghost houses, have finally located him across the country.

BEHIND is almost like 3 novels in one, full of shifting dimensions, weird time frames, and all the macabre goodness Little fans have come to expect. It makes a nice “double feature” read with the author’s first novel THE REVELATION, and features an ambiguous ending that will surely divide readers (I thought it fit the tone perfectly). Fans of weird, religious-themed horror should eat this up, as well as those who might be looking for a modern Twilight Zone.

Grab a copy here: BEHIND

Book Launch Party for ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER in Brooklyn!

 

On Thursday, September 5th, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., meet my wife Shannon Barracato as we launch her new novel ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER at the legendary Duff's, Brooklyn NY's coolest heavy metal bar! There will be copies of the novel available, plus swag for everyone, not to mention Duff's kick ass juke box where you can play all the metal/punk you can handle. Read more about the bar here: DUFF'S Brooklyn

Check out some of the amazing reviews that have been coming in:

"ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a powerful book, so original, filled with both wonder and horror, hope and fear. It's a funny, moving, scathing commentary - shades of Maus and Jojo Rabbit, the bastard love child of Chuck Palahniuk and Irvine Welsh."
- Richard Thomas, Bram Stoker, Shirley Jackson, and Thriller Award finalist

"Funny, scary, and at moments painfully relevant to modern times, ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a dark, dystopia, punk-pop classic. A road trip from Hell that's a joy to travel."
- Brendan Deneen, bestselling author of ALIEN: UNCIVIL WAR and THE CHRYSALIS

"The most original post-apocalyptic novel I've read in years. Shannon Barracato delivers an all-too-believable dystopia with gallows humor and vivid imagination in this genre-defying tale of magic, mayhem, and brotherly love. True horrors abound, but the darkness has a beating heart."
- Douglas Wynne, author of RED EQUINOX

"In a climate where wholly unoriginal fiction is often celebrated as genius, Shannon Barracato's ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER is a deep breath of fresh dystopian air. I've honestly never read anything quite like it. Barracato is an exciting and unique voice, and her latest novel is a testament not only to her talent, but to a fully realized artistic vision. Deeply unsettling, darkly funny, smart and thought-provoking, ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER will leave you reeling and questioning all the so-called 'rules' in the best possible way."
- Greg F. Gifune, bestselling author of THE BLEEDING SEASON and SAVAGES

If you can't make the event, grab a copy right here: ANTICHRIST SUPERTASTER

Cover Reveal for my new novella

 

Popular horror site DAILY DEAD recently revealed the cover art for my and Andre Duza's forthcoming novella AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED, which will be released on 1/14/25 by Death's Head Press, an imprint of the ever-growing DEAD SKY PUBLISHING / The artist is Ken Miller, whose impressive body of work can be seen on his website: Violent Visual 

About the novella:

"There are casual fans, and then there are genuine fanatics. Gary has been obsessed with the extreme side of cinema since he could remember, and has been on a quest to see every infamous film possible, the more shocking, the better.

He has even tried his hand at making his own films, but tonight he will be part of an urban legend, the thing people like him fantasize about: tonight Gary is going to see an actual snuff film.

But what he witnesses on a small screen at a secret location is only the beginning of a downward spiral where entertainment and fate collide... where Gary discovers there was a latent reason for his life long fascination with the dark side…"

Pre-orders can be placed here: AT MIDNIGHT WE POSSESS THE DAMNED