Denver Horror Collective Craves Fresh Blood

Denver Horror Collective is almost ten years old, and like a vampiric child of that age we’re getting into way too much mischief. 

DHC’s monthly in-person and virtual critique groups can’t stop churning out dark fiction, getting people published, and haunting the minds of readers across Colorado, the nation, and the world.

DHC’s events, such as our upcoming “Bloody Valentine” reading on Saturday, January 31 at Standley Lake Library in Arvada, continue to disturb—and delight!—anyone brave enough to attend. 

DHC’s public outreach at local schools (yup!), conferences, and even holiday markets are polluting the minds of the innocent, unsuspecting townsfolk and drawing them into our literary cult.

DHC’s small press refuses to stop printing books, such as last year’s FRONTIERS OF FRIGHT southwestern horror edited by A.E. Santana and our upcoming sci-fi Horror anthology edited by Sara Martinez (submissions open in January at DenverHorror.com).

And, of course, DHC’s members keep selling stories, novels, or even songs (see “Dark Lit Market” for some 2025 publications).

Plus, now would be the perfect time to thank longtime steering committee member and virtual critique host, Jeff Wood, for his years of service. 

Which means we’re now on the hunt for an every-other-month host for our virtual critique—switching things off with the bloodcurdling Joy Yehle. So, if you’ve ever wanted to help shepherd other horror writers across dim pastures (with an eye out for wolves), now’s your big chance! 

Speaking of which, a reminder that no matter how glutted DHC gets on human flesh, we’re always craving fresh blood for membership or to launch your own project under our ghastly banner.

Because DHC is independent, grassroots, and truly inclusive of all backgrounds and experience, we can do whatever the hell we want. So, whether you’ve been a part of DHC for years or are new to the scene, if you’ve got a throat to offer, we’ve got the fangs!  

ALL HALLOWS IMPROV SCARYTELLING II: A Virtual Celebration of NOT BURIED DEEP ENOUGH by Gary Robbe

October is a sacred month for dark fiction readers and writers alike. On Sunday, October 1 at 5 p.m. (MT), Denver Horror Collective is petrified to present the return of ALL HALLOWS IMPROV SCARYTELLING, our virtual horror storytelling event sure to disturb and unnerve anyone misfortunate enough to attend.

It’s also the launch of NOT BURIED DEEP ENOUGH, the debut short story collection by Gary Robbe, published by DHC!

In ALL HALLOWS IMPROV SCARYTELLING Colorado writers Gary Robbe, Zak Hennessey, Shannon Lawrence, Thomas C. Mavroudis, and Marissa Yarrow will exhibit their dark arts by prompting the first line of a tale from one of five subgenres—folk horror, haunted house, weird western, war story, dark fantasy—and attendees will help spin out the yarn on the spot, sentence by sentence (virtual guests are invited—though NOT required—to join in on the fun/fear)!

RSVP for Zoom link today at submissions [at] denverhorror [dot] com.

Behold: THE JEWISH BOOK OF HORROR on Amazon Today!

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐄𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐇 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞-𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐓𝐎𝐃𝐀𝐘 (𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧) 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧!

Edited by Josh Schlossberg, this “superior anthology” (Publishers Weekly) offers you twenty-two dark tales about the culture, history, and folklore of the Jewish people.

CONSUMED: Tales Inspired by the Wendigo emerging on Black Friday!

Hunger. Insatiable hunger. Hunger that changes you…consumes you…turning you into a nightmare version of what you once were.

On the heels of the success of its Denver Post best-selling and critically acclaimed Terror at 5280’, Denver Horror Collective is spawning another horror fiction anthology!

CONSUMED: Tales Inspired by the Wendigo will contain stories based on the Wendigo, a part-human monster or possessing spirit that instigates acts of murder, insatiable greed, and cannibalism, originating in the oral tradition of First Nations Algonquian tribes. 

The brainchild of master editors Hollie & Henry Snider (formerly of Strigidae Publishing), CONSUMED: Tales Inspired by the Wendigo will feature Wrath James White (author of Succulent PreyEveryone Dies Famous in a Small Town, and Population Zero), Steve Rasnic Tem (author of UboDeadfall Hotel, and over 350 short stories), Dana Fredsti (author of The Spawn of LilithBlood Ink, and the Plague Town trilogy), Owl Goingback (author of CrotaDarker than Night, and Coyote Rage), and many more seasoned and emerging horror authors.

In an effort to help communities struggling the most with the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 percent of net profits will go towards Southern Ute Indian Tribe coronavirus relief.

Tickets for All Hallows Improv Scarytelling on Oct. 25

Halloween is a sacred time for dark fiction readers and writers alike. On Sunday, October 25 at 7 p.m. (MT), Denver Horror Collective is proud to present a first-of-its-kind, improvisational horror storytelling event via Zoom sure to spook and scar anyone misfortunate enough to attend.

Thriller master Carter Wilson (author of The Dead Girl in 2A and Mister Tender’s Girl) and a formidable roster of nine seasoned and emerging Colorado horror writers will exhibit their dark arts by spinning three original horror tales on the spot, round-robin style, while you watch and listen from the (relative) safety of your home.

All Hallows Improv Scarytelling is a fundraiser for the November publication of CONSUMED: Tales Inspired by the Wendigo, Denver Horror Collective’s second horror fiction anthology featuring Wrath James White, Dana Fredsti, Owl Goingback, Steve Tem, and others, and edited by Hollie & Henry Snider.

Early bird general admission tickets are on sale via Eventbrite for $5 until October 24 when the price goes up to $10. All attendees get the chance to kick off the stories using their very own prompts.