S.J.Budd

" Antartica. A mining base at the edge of the world. Anders Norvelt, last minute replacement as head of security, has no time to integrate himself into the crew before an act of sabotage threatens the project. He must untangle a complex web of relationships from his position as prime suspect. Then a body is found int he ice. Systems fail as the long night falls. Now Anders must do more than find a murderer. He must find a way to survive. Will anyone endure the night shift or will ice and frozen corpses be all that remains." I was given this book by Flame Tree publishing in exchange for an honest review. I've loved each book they've sent me which are all horror/supernatural which is absolutely my thang!  But when I realised this book was science fiction I was instantly put off. However I really loved this book, it only took me a day to read it. I would actually classify this as a dystopian thriller with a thin element of science fiction. Robin Triggs does ...

It's with great pleasure to announce that my short story, Mother's Ruin, will be appearing in Fangs by Aphotic Realm. There's a stellar line up for this edition featuring Marcello Bondi, me!, Michael Carter, Kev Harrison, Joanna Koch, Chris Martin, Toni Miller, Christopher Stanley, Kenneth Tilford and Tom Over. It also features an interview with the absolute horror legend who needs no introduction, Adam Nevill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's such an honour to grace the same publication as him. Fangs is out 15th March 2019

I was beyond excited to see last year that Sanitarium Magazine was being revived. I loved the magazine in its first life. It has a special place in my heart as this was the magazine to give me my first story acceptance at a time where I was beginning to lose all confidence in my writing. I was first published in Issue 28. I'd bought 5 copies! I was nervous as I had never read it before but immediately loved it and continued to buy every issue afterwards until it stopped at issue 51. I was devastated. Its always so sad to see such a great magazine go but like with most indie horror presses they are run on love for horror not for profits. And amazingly I got another story acceptance from the new version of Sanitarium I was thrilled beyond words and after reading the first issue I am also very proud to be featured alongside such talented writers. To call this a magazine is a huge understatement. This is a great and vast tome of horror. Seriously there wasn't one tale I d...

This is the first book I've read by Hunter Shea. I was slightly apprehensive about reading it as I had been aware of all the hype and praise surrounding this book. I was worried it wouldn't live up to my high expectations of a creepy horror tale. But it did. I had great fun. From my point of view I would describe Creature as two books fused into one. The first book is a body-horror tale that felt a little too real for me. It details the lows and lows of a passionate married couple, (with a great sense of humour) fighting against the wife's auto-immune disease which completely dominates their lives. This section terrified me, like everyone else, I have a terrible fear of falling ill in such a way. I guess it will happen to us all in the end but to see it so up close is truly monstrous. Parts of this book were so hard to read as we've all had someone close to our hearts suffer in such a way. I really felt for Andrew, he'd do anything for Kate but he's ...

After losing his mother to a brain tumour, Trevor King feels totally alone in the world. Someone needs to pay for her death and Dr Mellick, Trevor's work colleague and family GP, is the man he holds responsible. Trevor's yearning for vengeance leads him to concoct a vicious plot to frame the doctor for multiple murders. Trevor skins the corpses, turning them into elaborate art pieces after being inspired by a mysterious textbook. But as the skins of the flayed victims come to life and continue the killings for him, Trevor wonders whether he is in too deep.When Dr Mellick goes missing Trevor becomes convinced the doctor is planning a similar scheme to bring him down.But as Trevor discovers the truth of his mother's death and his own life, this murderous path becomes more of a calling. Morgan K.Tanner first came on my radar after reading Tales From the Realm Vol 1 by Aphotic Realm  which featured his amazing story, The Almost Cannibal.  That story really stuck out for m...

I chose Bad Pennies after reading Call Drops also by John F.Leonard, a short horror story which was really creepy, imaginative and highly enjoyable. Bad Pennies is set in the same world and does not disappoint! Seeing a stranger die is the worst thing that Chris has ever witnessed. Picking up the dead man’s wallet is a mistake, a moment of weakness. That’s all it takes, one impulsive act, for reality to unravel. Because pocketing the wallet is only the beginning. Dark forces swim below the surface of the world... They change their shape but never go away... They find a way through...  Chris Carlisle is just an ordinary guy, always suffering from too much month at the end of his money. He's flat broke, his job is a dead end and his boss hates him. He's one warning away from getting fired. The only thing that is goo din his life is his beautiful Becca and for her he would do anything. He doesn't think his life can get any worse, but it can. One morning, late for...

I'm so excited to kick off 2019 with my short story, Just to Keep You Close, appearing in the first issue of the resurrected horror fiction magazine Sanitarium. Like many horror fans I was devastated when it was forced to go on hiatus and now, fast forward a few years, it's back! This is a magazine I quickly fell in love with and it introduced me to a lot of horror authors who have now gone on to make a big name for themselves. The first issue is available now on Amazon in e format and should be available in paperback in a few days. 5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth your time if dark fiction is your thing. 19 January 2019  -  Published on Amazon.com Verified Purchase The re-issuing of Sanitarium starts off with an impressive bang. The opening story, "Just To Keep You Close" by S.J. Budd had me literally itching my skin, because...well you'll have to read it. I've always enjoyed horror that builds an atmosphere for the reader and many of the sto...