Throne of the Bastards by Brian Keene and Steven L. Shrewsbury

Apex Publications
Contact: Lesley Conner, Managing Editor
lesley@apexbookcompany.com

Throne of the Bastards by Brian Keene and Steven L. Shrewsbury

Apex Publications is proud to announce the release of Throne of the Bastards by Brian Keene and Steven L. Shrewsbury. Sword and sorcery collides with horror once again in this sequel to the award-winning King of the Bastards!

Synopsis:
Learning that his family is in danger, Rogan returns to his former kingdom, now under siege from foreign invaders and supernatural forces led by his bastard son. With time running out, the aging barbarian and his trusted companions, Javan and Akibeel, must forge an alliance of new friends and old foes, mustering an army to retake the kingdom. Surrounded by savages, soldiers, demons, and dark magic, it will take all of their cunning, skill, ruthlessness, and courage to survive the slaughter and determine once and for all who shall sit upon the Throne of the Bastards.

Available direct through Apex or through one of our many online retailers.

Title: Throne of the Bastards by Brian Keene and Steven L. Shrewsbury
Release date: August 22nd, 2017
Price: $14.95, print. $6.99, digital.
ISBN: 978-1-937009-60-1

STEVEN L. SHREWSBURY lives, works, and writes in rural Illinois. Over three hundred and sixty of his short stories have been published in print or electronically, along with over one hundred poems. His novels include Godforsaken, Overkill, Thrall, Bedlam Unleashed, Hawg, Tormentor, Stronger Than Death, Hell Billy, Bag Magick, and many more—all running the gamut from sword and sorcery to historical fantasy to horror. A husband and father, he loves books, British television programs, guns, movies, politics, sports, and hanging out with his family. He looks for brightness wherever it may hide.

BRIAN KEENE writes novels, comic books, short fiction, and occasional journalism for money. He is the author of over fifty books, mostly in the horror, crime, and dark fantasy genres. His 2003 novel, The Rising, is often credited with inspiring pop culture’s current interest in zombies. He has won numerous awards and honors, including the 2014 World Horror Grandmaster Award, 2001 Bram Stoker Award for Nonfiction, 2003 Bram Stoker Award for First Novel, 2004 Shocker Award for Book of the Year, and Honors from United States Army International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan and Whiteman A.F.B. (home of the B-2 Stealth Bomber) 509th Logistics Fuels Flight. The father of two sons, Keene lives in rural Pennsylvania.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the thrice Hugo Award-nominated Apex Magazine. The Apex catalog contains books by genre luminaries such as Damien Angelica Walters, Catherynne M. Valente, and Brian Keene.

Apex Publications announces Rosewater by Tade Thompson

Apex Publications
Contact: Lesley Conner, Managing Editor
lesley@apexbookcompany.com

Rosewater by Tade Thompson

Apex Publications is proud to announce the release of Rosewater by Tade Thompson. Set in Nigeria, Rosewater is a science fiction novel spanning decades of Kaaro’s life: from when he was a young man and thief through his recruitment into a government agency known as Section 45 to when he must try to figure out why other sensitives like himself are dying. It’s story about love, survival, and a silent alien invasion.

"The story bounces over multiple decades, laying out Kaaro’s sordid past and assorted sins, but it never loses sight of the big picture, in which the machinations of aliens (whom the reader will find both understandable and frightening) and psychics are just the backdrop for a character-driven, morally gray tale of hope and potential redemption."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review:

"One of the most imaginative alien invasion scenarios I have come across ..."
—Aliette de Bodard, Nebula and BSFA award-winning author of THE HOUSE OF SHATTERED WINGS

"Part thriller, part mystery and part phantasmagoric journey across a strange yet not-too-distant future, and reminiscent at times of both Roger Zelazny and Nnedi Okorafor, Rosewater is the hardboiled, Nigerian alien invasion story you always wanted and now simply couldn't do without!" 
—Lavie Tidhar, author of A MAN LIES DREAMING and CENTRAL STATION

"This thrilling, ambitious novel offers a deftly woven and incisive blend of science fiction, psychology, action, and mystery. Highly recommended."
—Kate Elliott, author of BLACK WOLVES and COLD MAGIC

Synopsis:

Between meeting a boy who bursts into flames, alien floaters that want to devour him, and a butterfly woman who he has sex with when he enters the xenosphere, Kaaro's life is far from the simple one he wants. But he left simple behind a long time ago when he was caught stealing and nearly killed by an angry mob. Now he works for a government agency called Section 45, and they want him to find a women known as Bicycle Girl. And that's just the beginning.

An alien entity lives beneath the ground, forming a biodome around which the city of Rosewater thrives. The cities of Rosewater are enamored by the dome, hoping for a chance to meet the beings within or possibly be invited to come in themselves. But Kaaro isn't so enamored. He was in the biodome at one point and decided to leave it behind. When something begins killing off other sensitives like himself, Kaaro defies Section 45 to search for an answer, facing his past and comes to a realization about a horrifying future.

Release date: November 15th, 2016
Price: $16.95 (tradepaper), $6.99 (digital)
ISBN: 978-1-937009-29-8
360 pages

Rosewater is available now direct from Apex (http://www.apexbookcompany.com/products/rosewater) and through other online retailers.

TADE THOMPSON lives and works in the south of England. His first novel MAKING WOLF won the 2016 Kitschies Golden Tentacle award for best debut novel. He has written a number of short stories including BUDO at Escape Pod. His horror novella GNAW will be released in December from Solaris Books.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the thrice Hugo Award-nominated Apex Magazine. The Apex catalog contains books by genre luminaries such as Damien Angelica Walters, Catherynne M. Valente, and Brian Keene.

Apex Publication announces Kentucky Kaiju!

Apex Publications has joined forces with Justin Stewart, Tressina Bowling, and Shawn Pryor to bring you a book unlike anything we have done before.

Coming this October, Kentucky Kaiju!

Kentucky Kaiju is part art book, part monster manual; combining the two to create the ultimate field guide to the kaiju of the bluegrass state. From 29 foot beavers roaming the forests of Black Gold, KY, to thunderous trees walking Thousandsticks, to a gigantic robot that fell from another galaxy to Future City, KY, this book has it all. Though photographic evidence of kaiju is rare, each one presented in this guide has been artistically rendered by Justin Stewart and Tressina Bowling, with descriptions of their creation, location, and proclivity to violence penned by Shawn Pryor.

Kentucky Kaiju lets you travel deep into the hills of Kentucky and uncover all of its monsters without ever leaving the safety of your home.

Whether you’re a diehard Apex fan, love monster manuals that fill your imagination with new kaiju, or enjoy stellar artwork, this is a book you will want on your bookshelf. Lucky for you, you can preorder your copy now (http://www.apexbookcompany.com/collections/all-books/products/kentucky-kaiju) and get in on an amazing deal!

Retail price: $14.95 (paperback)
Preorder price: $11.95
ISBN: 978-1-937009-45-8
104 pages

In addition to saving $3 off the MSRP, all preorders are eligible for free domestic shipping and will include a limited edition postcard featuring a kaiju by Chloe Teets that is not available in the book.

You can preorder your copy of Kentucky Kaiju at
http://www.apexbookcompany.com/collections/all-books/products/kentucky-kaij

"Kentucky Kaiju will make you want to leap right inside your favorite armored robot exoskeleton and go on a moster-jammed southern gothic safari."
—Matt Wallace, ENVY OF ANGELS, RENCOR: LIFE IN GRUDGE CITY

"Kentucky Kaiju is what happens when imagination is allowed to run totally amok! You'll love every minute spent poring over the glorious artwork and meeting monsters with insanely clever names like Komodo Supremis! A new favorite on every page!"
—Brandon Thomas, HORIZON, THE MANY ADVENTURES OF MIRANDA MERCURY

"Kentucky Kaiju is an awesome cross between The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe, 'Godzilla' flicks and Shadow of the Colossus! It's a must have for prospective monster hunters, crypto-zoologists and Dungeon Masters everywhere!"
—Ted Lange, WARP ZONE

"Beautifully illustrated and hilariously inventive, Kentucky Kaiju takes you back to a childhood spent wandering around in the woods looking for monsters. Just be glad you found them in this book and not out there."
—Kenny Keil, MAD MAGAZINE, STAY AT HOME SCARFACE

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the thrice Hugo Award-nominated Apex Magazine. The Apex catalog contains books by genre luminaries such as Damien Angelica Walters, Catherynne M. Valente, and Brian Keene.

Apex Publications
Contact: Lesley Conner, Managing Editor
lesley@apexbookcompany.com

Apex Publications announces first communions

Apex Publications
Contact: Lesley Conner, Managing Editor
lesley@apexbookcompany.com

Apex Publications is proud to announce the release of first communions by Geoffrey Girard. Geoffrey Girard first appeared in Writers of the Future and has since written and sold more than sixty short stories of dark fantasy, science fiction, and horror. Collected here, for the first time, are sixteen of his best, and darkest, tales.

The man who collects chips of bone from his willing victims... A legendary evil is adopted by a small, and thankful, village... The doomed girl invited to take part in a deliberate tragedy... A horrific church choir assembled after the zombie apocalypse... The boy who harvests spiders for a shadowy woman of magic... A fearsome town where the children’s nightmares are all real... The pain, price and beauty of blood and first loves...

From the curse of ancient evils to futuristic retirement homes where the dead still rule, haunted graveyards, planets of torture where all are equal, hockey-playing demon hunters, dark sorcerers battling in Algeria, and even voodoo-cursed pirates. Explore the darkest, and most majestic, extremes of us all in sixteen unique tales that will entertain, horrify and keep you thinking long after the last page is turned.

Let the communion begin…

first communions is available direct from Apex (http://www.apexbookcompany.com/products/first-communions) or from one of our online retailers.

Release date: April 12th, 2016
$14.95 (print edition)
ISBN: 978-1-937009-41-0
268 pages
Cover art by Anjo Matko

GEOFFREY GIRARD writes thrillers, young adult novels, and short speculative fiction. First appearing in WRITERS OF THE FUTURE in 2003, Geoffrey has since sold more than sixty short stories, including the TALES OF… series, a collection of original tales based on U.S. history and folklore. His novels include Cain’s Blood, a techno thriller, and the Stoker-nominated Project Cain, a YA companion novel, both published by Simon & Schuster. Geoffrey graduated from Washington College with a literature degree and has an MA in creative writing from Miami University. He is the Department Chair of English at a private boys’ school in Cincinnati where he teaches literature, horror, and creative writing; and a frequent lecturer and workshop instructor at schools, universities and writers' conferences. For more information, visit www.GeoffreyGirard.com.

APEX PUBLICATIONS (www.apexbookcompany.com) is a small press dedicated to publishing exemplary works of science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Owned and operated by Jason B. Sizemore, Apex publishes the thrice Hugo Award-nominated Apex Magazine. The Apex catalog contains books by genre luminaries such as Damien Angelica Walters, Catherynne M. Valente, and Brian Keene.

Announcing Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling Kickstarter

Apex Publications
Lesley Conner, Managing Editor
lesley@apexbookcompany.com

Announcing Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling Kickstarter

Today, Hugo-nominated Apex Book Company is pleased to announce the launch of a Kickstarter Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling. The anthology’s concept highlights the long-standing tradition of writers who tackle tired tropes or clichés prevalent in popular media and twist them to tell fresh and interesting stories.

Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling is edited by Monica Valentinelli and Jaym Gates. Each author in this collection has examined a specific trope or cliché that includes: Chainmaille Bikini, The Black Man Dies First, Superhero Had a Crappy Childhood, Yellow Peril, and The Chosen One.

The anthology features cover art by award-winning artist Galen Dara, and includes speculative stories from Maurice Broaddus, Anton Strout, Shanna Germain, Sara Harvey, Delilah Dawson, John Hornor Jacobs, Rahul Kanakia, Alethea Kontis, Haralambi Markov, Sunil Patel, Kat Richardson, Nisi Shawl, Alyssa Wong, and many others.

In addition to fiction, planned stretch goals will further enhance the collection’s theme and presentation by adding essays about tropes and clichés. Backers may also add additional books and a subscription to Apex Magazine to further support Apex Book Company and ensure the success of this unique collection.

To find out more about Upside Down: Inverted Tropes in Storytelling, be sure to watch for milestone-related updates from the editors on the Kickstarter at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/apexpublications/upside-down-inverted-tropes-in-storytelling-anthol or on the Apex Book Company website at www.apexbookcompany.com.