I just learned that my short-short story, “How to Feed a Man-Eating Plant” somehow made it to the Top 10 in the “Best Horror Stories of 2003″ in the Reader’s Poll at Preditors and Editors trade magazine online. But the voting hasn’t closed yet. You can read my story online at The Eternal Night and then, if you like it enough, CLICK HERE TO VOTE for your favorite story. Note that the deadline approaches fast: poll closes on Jan 21st!

“Man Eating Plant” will appear in my forthcoming collection, 100 Jolts: Shockingly Short Stories

Grave Markings: The Tenth Anniversary Edition is gearing up for an April release from Delirium Books as part of their “Dark Essential” series. Pictured above is an advanced peek at the fantastic cover art by Mike Bohatch. Preorders are being taken now at Shocklines.com. These titles are reputed to sell out quite rapidly. Only 15 leatherbound copies and 150 signed hardcovers are being produced, so don’t miss out!

Advanced Acclaim for 100 Jolts: Shockingly Short Stories by Michael A. Arnzen:

“Simply stated, there’s >nothing< like this collection of ultra-short fiction. Arnzen continually impressed me with his punchy narrative style and endless images of grue, gore, and gristle. An evening with this book will leave you feeling like you’ve been guttted like a dead fish and hung out to dry.” — Tom Monteleone, author of Blood of the Lamb

“100 Jolts delivers far more than is promised by its title; with this magnificent collection of literate and disturbing short-shorts, some which are among the darkly funniest I’ve ever read, Arnzen can rightfully claim his place as the Donald Barthelme of horror. This book is a remarkable achievement.” — Gary A. Braunbeck, author of In Silent Graves

“Avant-horror is all about trespass (of narrative limits, of readerly expectations, of social decorum) and all about the disruption of what our culture thinks it needs to repress in order to remain whole and functioning. In these 100 wild-eyed fictive concentrates, Michael A. Arnzen, the wizard of outr