Shadows at Midnight.: the Maynard Sims Library. Vol. 1

Publisher Marketing: Shadows At Midnight - The Maynard Sims Library Volume 1 presents the finest in traditional English ghost stories and unsettling tales of quiet fear. Shadows At Midnight are ghost stories in the traditional English style. First published in hardback in 1979 from William Kimber & Co Limited of London who described the debut book as - "In this masterly collection of tales, the authors take us into that unquiet land, in the witching time of night, where malign presences seek to entwine the unwary in their web of evil. Their ghosts, or evil spirits, or gruesome influences - no one expression sums them all up - remain lingering in their chosen abodes, be it wardrobe, cradle or tomb, to threaten the existence of the innocent. But not all the spirits are terrifying. Some, like the laughing children of Border End, seek to enthral by cajolery, though their threat remains as great. The authors do not delve too far into explanations for their phantoms. Indeed how could they? For who can explain the midnight land?" There were ten stories and they were enjoyed by those that read them. "A really creepy collection, they conjure up gruesome influences to linger after the book is done." Southend & District Standard "All the tales are totally intriguing - whether they are about a boy visiting his aunt, or a man inheriting his aunt's house, a house purchaser, a vicar, a brass rubbings enthusiast, or a mother and her baby's cradle." Grimsby Evening Telegraph "Ten ghost stories for lovers of the supernatural. A book that will haunt you." Manchester Evening News "Present the uncanny in a civilised way."Yorkshire Evening Post In 1999 the book was revised and enlarged and published by Sarob Press in a limited edition hardback. "The two authors have been writing together for more than twenty-five years, and produce some of the finest examples of supernatural fiction seen today. These stories can be described as coming from the same mould as the masters of the genre, James, Wakefield, and Benson. They are a fine collection of traditional ghost stories." Sarob Press Readers agreed - "The authors have a grasp of craftsmanship which many a writer might envy, alongside an eye for detail and a knack for unobtrusive but telling characterisation."Zene "Truly none should miss out on 'Border End'. The authors affinity for the tumult of emotions that an adolescent experiences rivals the sympathetic hand of the great Robert Westall." Bill Barnett, All Hallows journal of the Ghost Story Society "This is another excellent book from Sarob. If ghost tales are your thing, get hold of this collection." David Howe, Shivers. "There is nothing wrong with the writing here, and this book is to be thoroughly recommended." Paul Brazier, Interzone "The stories are still all good examples of the understated." John Pelan, Midnight House "Sarob Press must be congratulated in producing this fine limited edition hardback which would be a welcome addition to any collection." Steve Lockley, Horror Writers Association "A welcome re-issue. (Shadows At Midnight 1999)." Steve Jones, Best New Horror, 2000 Contributor Bio:  Sims, Maynard MAYNARD SIMS www.maynard-sims.com Supernatural novels, Shelter, Demon Eyes, Nightmare City, Stronghold, and the three Department 18 books (www.dept18.com) Black Cathedral, Night Souls, and The Eighth Witch, have been published mass market and eBook in the USA. The fourth Department 18 book, A Plague Of Echoes, is for 2014, as is a standalone ghost story, Stillwater. The first four novels have been purchased by Amazon Publishing. They have completed Department 18 book 5. Thrillers include an adventure thriller, Dark Of The Sun, which is a 2013 publication. Falling Apart At The Edges, a crime thriller, Through The Sad Heart, an action thriller, Let Death Begin, a mystery thriller, are completed and being read, and they are working on the Dark Of The Sun sequel. Mick has written a screenplay based on the first two Department 18 books - this screenplay, his first, won the 2013 British Horror Film Festival Award for Best New Screenplay. They have also written scripts based on The Eighth Witch, and some of their ghost stories. Mick has completed two original, commissioned screenplays, one a mainstream drama. Collections include, Shadows At Midnight, 1979 and 1999 (revised and enlarged), Echoes Of Darkness, 2000, Incantations, 2002, two retrospective collections of their stories, essays and interviews, The Secret Geography Of Nightmare and Selling Dark Miracles, both 2002, Falling Into Heaven in 2004, The Odd Ghosts, 2011, and Flame And Other Enigmatic Tales, and A Haunting Of Ghosts, both 2012. Novellas, Moths, The Hidden Language Of Demons, The Seminar, and Double Act, have been published in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2007 respectively. His Other Son, a novella, is completed. Numerous stories have been published in a variety of anthologies and magazines, including the Mammoth Book of Best New Horror, the anthology, Strange Tales, which won the World Fantasy Award 2004 and the Del Rey anthology, The Children Of Cthulhu. They worked as editors on the first seven volumes of Darkness Rising, and the two annual Darkness Rising anthologies. They co-edited and published F20 with The British Fantasy Society. As editors/publishers they ran Enigmatic Press in the UK, which produced Enigmatic Tales, and its sister titles. They have written essays. Email contact can be made at Mick@micksims.f9.co.uk FaceBook as Maynard Sims. LinkedIn under Maynard Sims Twitter on @micksims Google+ as Maynard Sims