New James Doig ghost story anthology coming from Wordsworth

SSWFT's own James Doig has done it again! Not content with having edited two previous anthologies of classic and colonial ghost and horror stories from Australia's glory days (both available from Equilibrium Books in Western Australia), James sold UK publisher a third anthology titled simply ''Australian Ghost Stories''. The volume is forthcoming in feb 2010 and is a must for any collector or weird fiction, especially of Australian-related material. Here's the info:


Australian Ghost Stories
ISBN: 978-1-84022-641-6
Author : Various
Total Pages: 224
Price: £2.99

Australian Ghost Stories

Murderous ghosts, horrific curses and monstrous beings haunt an unforgiving landscape into which travellers stray at their peril. Journey through the dark byways of Australia's Gothic past in the rare stories gathered in this memorable new collection. Work by acclaimed Australian writers such as Marcus Clarke, Henry Lawson and Edward Dyson appears alongside many lesser-known authors such as Beatrice Grimshaw, Mary Fortune and Ernest Favenc. Many of the stories collected here have never been reprinted since their first publication in 19th and early 20th century periodicals and showcase the richness and variety of the Australian ghost and horror story.

James Doig provides an authoritative introduction full of fresh insights into Australian Gothic fiction with detailed biographical notes on the authors represented.

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 2010

Rick Kennett Ernie Pine ghost stories available for download

Rick Kennett is not a member of SSWFT. Oh no. But he's one of Australia's finest, most prolific (and unjustly overlooked) writers of horror, ghost stories and science fiction.

I recently stumbled across a site which has audio readings of two of Rick's stories of Ernie Pine, reluctant ghost-hunter, available for download. You can get them here:

http://dunesteef.com/category/rick-kennett/

Check 'em out!

Mark Valentine's The Lost Club

We have neglected hitherto to mention The Lost Club, a journal and website run by SSWFT's Mark Valentine and by Roger Dobson of the UK. The website can still be found at: http://freepages.pavilion.net/tartarus/lost.html and includes profiles of many neglected authors, some supernatural.

It appears the journal itself (published by Tartarus Press) may have ceased: we will seek information from Mr Valentine to clarify this. Meanwhile, the website is well worth consulting for its useful information on authors from Micahel Arlen to Francis Brett Young.

Pictured is Edward Heron-Allen, a writer who published various supernatural short stories and also published novels as Christopher Blayre.

Phillip A. Ellis poetry e-books available

Phillip A. Ellis informs us: "Travelling North_, a collection of twenty four quatorzains had previously appeared translated into Polish. Now the poems are
available in a printable e-book for $5 only, delivered directly to
your email inbox. For copies, contact phillip.a.ellis@gmail.com to
arrange your payment options. As a special offer, I'll add a unique
free verse sonnet for every additional $5 (Aust)"