Steve Stred

17 years ago, Tyler Barton was born in the Rocky Mountains, while his parents were on a hike. On that day, his mother disappeared, never to be seen again. Now, history repeats itself. On the 17th anniversary of her disappearance, Tyler’s father is flying home when the plane he’s on disappears – in the same area where his mother was last seen. Undeterred by officials, Tyler decides to hike into the area in search of his father, hoping to find him alive and bring him back to safety. But there’s a reason that area is prohibited to enter and even though Tyler doesn’t care, he’ll soon find out that the wilderness can hide some of the deepest, darkest fears known to man. From the author of ‘Incarnate,’ ‘The Window In the Ground’ and ‘Ritual’ comes a new novel that’ll make you rethink your Summer hiking trip.

Ahhh… nothing like the annual summer family camping trip, right? Malcolm, his wife Sam and their two kids have been staying at the same cabin, at the same campground for years now. Heck, Malcolm’s been coming to the campground since he was a kid. Miles and miles of groomed trails, hiking, kayaking on the pristine lake. What’s not to like? But this year… well this year’s different. You see, roof repairs have caused them to have to change their plans. Now they’re staying at the cabin at the end of season, in fact they’re the last campers before it closes for the winter. While happy to be spending time with the family, Malcolm feels a shift. The caretaker next door makes it known he hates him. The trees… move and dance, as though calling him, beckoning him. Then on a seemingly normal kayaking trip, the family makes a discovery. YOU TAKE FROM ME I TAKE FROM YOU Something’s out there, just on the other side of the fence. Malcolm’s positive it’s just the caretaker trying to scare him, teach the family a lesson. But what if it’s not… What if there is something out there? The Stranger is the second novel from Steve Stred and 9th release overall. The Stranger is another offering following in the footsteps of similar books Invisible, YURI and The Girl Who Hid in the Trees. As Steve describes his works; “dark, bleak horror.” With this release, Steve has decided to look deeper into what makes humans tick. He confronts two key elements of mankind; bigotry and our environmental footprint. Featuring stunning cover art by Chadwick St. John (www.inkshadows.com), The Stranger will be a story that will leave you feeling uneasy and have you looking at the trees differently. Maybe it’s not the wind making the branches sway… Maybe… It’s… The Stranger.

Two hundred miles north of the town of Basco sits The Border. It’s a quiet, off-the-grid settlement, where the residents have developed a tentative agreement with those that live on the other side of the clearing. But things are about to change forever. As night falls, a teenage girl is brutally murdered as she flees across the clearing. Now, it’s up to Basco PD officers Brown and Reynolds to find her killer. But the truth is far worse than they could possibly imagine, and the more the officers uncover, the bolder the things beyond the clearing grow. ‘Under an icy snowfall…’ ‘Under a clear, blue moon…’ North of The Border lies a land unseen by man. A land where things are ready and waiting… to feed. Splatterpunk-Nominated author Steve Stred, who brought you ‘Mastodon’ and ‘Incarnate,’ delivers a pulse-pounding, high-stakes story where if the cold doesn’t kill you, the Forest Guards will.

“Hello Scott,” the creature said, its voice deep and tasting like dirt. You ever have an imaginary friend? You know, that made up person that was always there for you, always willing to play with you and letting you confide in them? “Scott, you wouldn’t like my real name. So how about you just call me your wagon buddy?” What if your imaginary friend turned out to be real? And not a person at all? Wagon Buddy tells the tale of a man and his creature, his only friend, who time and time again comes to his aide. But what happens when you can’t control the creature anymore?

Hope. What lengths would you go to, when all you have is hope? For Jane, known medically as 816, that is all she has. She hopes to be free one day, free from the torture, the captivity and the loneliness. She wants to be free, with her best friend Penny, known medically as 815, experiencing life outside of their caged walls. The 816 Chronicles is a story about ‘a being’ discovering the world and people around her. A being discovering that sometimes situations and people are completely outside of her control, but still doing their best to look towards the positive, even when it becomes apparent, that what you see, isn’t always what you get.

What if it was your last day alive? Would you try and do things you'd always wanted? Or would you spend your day as you normally would, with friends and family, making new memories? 'Wound Upon Wound' is the collected serial novella from author Steve Stred, gathered here for the first time in ebook format. A free novella for readers to discover his work. Telling the story of Ash on her final day, she goes about things as normal. Her and her brother head to the pier, wanting to just hang out on a sunny, summer afternoon. But her brother has something hanging over his head. She knows somethings bothering him, but what? Steve Stred is the author of a number of novels, novellas and collections. He has appeared in numerous anthologies alongside some of Horrors heaviest hitters. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife, son and their dog OJ.

For Balder Walks is the short story of a father, torn apart by his decisions, trying to separate himself from his past. A grim, harrowing look at how his life has unraveled, Balder struggles to cope with what he has done. For Balder Walks is a fully immersed experience, accompanied by a bleak depressive soundtrack to stimulate all of your senses. Also comes with a sneak peek of the short stories "Bruce" and "Virtues of the Beast" and an exclusive chapter preview of the upcoming novel "Invincible".

Dim the Sun is a collection of 14 dark poems and one bleak horror short story. Focusing on pain, fear, anger, depression and anxiety Steve Stred brings you deep into his mind to share some truly unnerving moments. This is Steve Stred’s first collection of poetry he has released.

Imagine how amazing it would be, to go to sleep one night and then wake in a whole new world. A world filled with animals that could talk and who became your friends? For young Peter, that’s just what happens. He wakes in a magical forest and quickly discovers that the animals who live there are just as excited to see him, as he is them. But something lurks. Something that doesn’t want Peter to be visiting the forest. Through the help of his animal friends and a giant, Peter wants to get to the bottom of why this figure doesn’t want the young boy visiting. A coming-of-age, middle grade/YA story of fantasy, family and courage, ‘The Boy Whose Room Was Outside’ is sure to warm the hearts of new readers and fill the souls of their parents with nostalgia.

In partnership with the Ladies of Horror Fiction for the first annual LOHF Writer's Grant - The Night Crawls In is a collection of 33 drabbles (exactly 100 word stories) and 17 dark poems. Releasing September 1st, 2019, all proceeds from pre-orders will be going towards funding the Grant, as well as all further proceeds from sales will be put towards the ongoing growth of future grants. Some of the titles of the drabbles and poems include; - "The Night Crawls In" - "Worms" - "Six Shots (To Redemption)" - "Like Father, Like Son" - "Autopsy" - "Chainsaw" - "The Crooked Lady"

"It was just me and my wagon buddy, and I was free."The follow up to Steve Stred's break through release 'Wagon Buddy.'Scott thought his troubles were behind him. His wagon buddy had helped him escape from the detachment, leaving the interrogation room behind.But what now?A realization that a specific moment in his life has led to his sadness, his sorrow and the feelings of always being lost and alone.So, accompanied by his friend, Scott sets out to find the one person that might be able to fill the void he has inside of him. But what if what he finds is anything but joy?Steve Stred writes dark, bleak fiction.He has a number of novels, novellas and collections out as well, he has appeared in some fantastic anthologies beside some of the biggest names in Horror.He lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife, son and their dog, OJ.

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here. From the author of Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery, comes his first full length nightmare. Chased across the country-side by a ravenous beast, haunted by the decisions he has made. The Lighthouse, where nothing appears to be what it is. A noise, constantly drawing him in, but keeping him at a distance from answers. All of it comes to a crescendo, crashing down around him. Invisible is a gut wrenching ride across a nightmarish landscape, filled with music references, peppered with claustrophobic bouts within the Lighthouse. Part fiction, part auto-biography, Invisible will etch itself into your subconscious long after you have finished reading.

Earth has crumbled. The survivors now live on the revolving ship designed by Mr. Eldridge and his company Empyrean, orbiting the planet. With selection day arriving, Lizzie isn’t sure what they want. Salvation or Eradication. Selection is supposed to be the highlight of a student’s life. To jump and find your forever life. But one question lingers for Lizzie, more than any other. What if you jump and miss your orb?

**Nominated for a 2022 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novella!** Following the events of COMMUNION, Professor Bianchi knows that Father is getting closer to finally completing the steps to ultimately open the doorway and ascend to the Black Heavens. Father is bound and determined to take his place alongside the cosmic chaos Gods. With this in mind, Bianchi must seek out the man himself and try and find a way to put a stop to Father's madness, even as Father himself begins to transform. The stunning conclusion to the Father of Lies Trilogy will leave you filthy and finally discovering the true nature of the Black Heavens.

The One That Knows No Fear: stuntman extraordinaire. For young Timmy Wilson, this stuntman is his only reason for living. Every Saturday he watches as The One That Knows No Fear cheats death. Now, the stunt show is coming to his hometown and Timmy can't wait to watch him perform in person. A coming-of-age, cosmic horror story set in the 1970s, The One That Knows No Fear will keep your heart pounding long after the stunt has finished. Writing about The One That Knows No Fear, author Steve Stred said of his protagonist Timmy Wilson: “The story really focuses on him. This is a boy who wishes for a father figure to be in his life and because it’s not there, he attaches to this specific Daredevil, the one they call ‘The One That Knows No Fear.’ Timmy really is an innocent kid who just wants to believe that adults are saints, which we all know is far from the truth.”

Sometime in the night, Yuri awoke from his deepest sleep to the sounds of a child screaming. Listening, Yuri heard nothing more. Believing it to have happened in his dream, he let his head fall back onto the thick pillow, returning to sleep almost immediately. As a bitter winter stretches on, Yuri decides to leave the family farm and seek employment in the City. Hired by the mysterious owner of the mines Mr. Petrov, Yuri is excited to move into the man's mansion. But not all is what it appears, and soon Yuri realizes not everyone is his friend. Yuri is a harrowing tale of what ends people would go to for family and for fortune. Just remember the key to surviving; Don't eat the stew. From the author of Invisible, Wagon Buddy, and Jane: the 816 Chronicles comes a new tale of horror! Steve Stred is an emerging horror writer, based in Edmonton, AB Canada.

One week after the horrific events at the commune unfolded, Detective McKay is left to pick up the pieces and try to connect the dots. But before he can determine who this Father character is or what his motivations were, a mysterious redheaded woman arrives at the station. With one quick act of violence, McKay is dragged into a world he’d never imagined possible. A world of heinous acts, strange events and a creature from his darkest nightmares. At the end of the day, McKay will need to find a way to survive, or become another sacrifice by Father in his quest to ascend to the Black Heaven’s.

Summer, 1976. For Ryan, turning thirteen is a big deal. Turning thirteen while staying at a haunted house? Amazing. After pleading with his parents to stay in The Matthews House, they’ve agreed. This summer will be the best vacation they’ve ever had. Too bad something still claims the house as its own. Something Lillian Matthews accidently called forth all those years ago. Ryan and his parents will have to fight to survive this summer, When they meet evil Incarnate in the flesh.

On the outskirts of town, hides a secret. If you follow a path through the trees, read the rules (always twice) on the sign post, go up a hill and across a grassy clearing, that secret will reveal itself. You see, for hundreds of years, this seemingly normal town has done its part, kept the balance. But on this day, a rule will be broken. You might have heard the rumors shared in whispers. You may have been told about someone who’d seen it with their own eyes. But now, on this day, you’ll join us. You’ll come for a car ride and we’ll park. Then we’ll walk along a path, read some rules (always twice), and go up a hill and arrive at a clearing. Across the grass, you’ll see just what the town’s been hiding, protecting for centuries. Then you’ll feel a pull. And we’ll make our way over to it. Over to the window in the ground. “I looked at the mound and could see that a light was shining up from the under, from inside the window. Something was happening below.”

Something lurks just beyond.Centuries ago a heinous act created a ripple that still haunts the residents to this very day.Now the kids who reside near McConnell's Forest live forever in fear.Jason lost his brother when he was young. He left with his friends to ‘debunk’ the urban legend and never came back.Now Jason and his group of friends are fed up and want to discover what is happening, what is the real cause of the terror holding their small town hostage.But something is waiting for them. She may look sweet and innocent, but the friends are about to find out that pure evil can exist in the smallest of packages.She's out there. And while you may not know her name or what she looks like, the local kids will tell you if you ask, that you should fear for your life from the girl who hid in the trees.From the dark mind of Steve Stred, the author of Wagon Buddy, YURI and Invisible comes this fast-paced, seat of your pants coming-of-age tale.  A quick, violent, bleak read,The Girl Who Hid in the Trees will make you think twice about those sounds you hear far off in the woods.

EXTREME CONTENT WARNING! This book contains scenes of extreme violence and sexual content. Do not purchase this book if you are easily offended or require trigger warnings! Meet Brad. A quiet, hardworking man who goes about his daily routine with joy. He works as a telemarketer, trying his best to sell poorly made, over-priced products to the unsuspecting people on the other end of the phone. Brad doesn't mind though, it's a means to an end. Life's about to change for Brad. Now that Father has anointed him the Chosen one, the one to open the gates and allow them to flock into the Black Heavens. Eternity awaits. But is Brad ready to perform on the big day?

Welcome to Fork-in-the-Road, Any State, USA. A quiet place to live. A decent place to raise your family. Life is good for the folks who reside there. You can wave to your neighbors, knowing they’re solid, salt-of-the-land people. And, when new people arrive, everyone welcomes them. After all, it’s the neighborly thing to do. Yup, life’s been pretty good for fifteen-year-old Aiden. But things change. Subtly at first. Holding hands. A first kiss. And the local bully making sure his father, Reverend Andrew Hampton, knows that there are sins taking place in his town. Life has a funny way of changing before our eyes. And when a strange boy appears in the woods, speaking only one word, “Up,” well… things are about to change… forever. From 2X Splatterpunk-Nominated Author Steve Stred, comes a new small-town horror novella to make you question just how well you know your neighbors.

Of Witches… the newest collection by dark fiction author, Steve Stred, brings together eight stories all revolving around one of history’s great curiosities – the witch. Steve Stred will once again take you into the deepest, darkest places. Accompanied by fifteen stunning photographs/illustrations, as well as an amazing foreword from Miranda Crites, this collection is sure to quench your crone thirst. Within this collection you’ll find tales about; -A watery reunion -A story shared in a bar -Letters left after a family member dies -A chance encounter while camping -Three sisters who live on the outskirts of town -The events that follow the loss of a loved one -Strange occurrences at a property -A teenager starting to work at the family business Of Witches… is sure to become both a Halloween classic as well as a collection classic.

EXTREME CONTENT WARNING! This book contains scenes of extreme violence and sexual content. Do not purchase this book if you are easily offended or require trigger warnings! Beginning in October, 2019, Steve Stred released three of the darkest, most depraved novellas – Ritual, Communion, and Sacrament (**Nominated for a 2022 Splatterpunk Award for Best Novella!**). These three novellas completed the ‘Father of Lies’ trilogy, telling the story of a disturbed man trying to open the cosmic gates and enter the Black Heavens to live forever. Inspired by Steve Stred’s research acquired while joining a real cult, the stories from the trilogy have already become favorites within the horror world. Now, here for the first time, is the complete and definitive ‘The Complete Father of Lies Series.’ Featuring; - All three novellas - An exclusive foreword by Sonora Taylor - An exclusive essay by cover artist Mason McDonald - A bonus fourth story ‘Eucharist.’ - ‘The Battle Raged On and On’ essay from the author, answering reader questions about the trilogy Not to be missed, this Omnibus will be available in ebook, paperback and hardcover!