Crystal Lake: Torrid Waters

20/12/2025

A tale as dark and complex as the human psyche.

Kaliana Cook, a he**in addict haunted by her past, is on a desperate quest for freedom. Paroled but longing to reunite with the child she loves, Kali makes a daring escape, only to realize she's entangled in a far more sinister web.

As Kali's journey unfolds, reality warps into a nightmare. She finds herself pursued not only by a relentless parole agent but also by a monstrous presence she unwittingly unleashed. This chilling entity, a bizarre blend of nightmare spiders and a deceptively innocent little girl, embodies the horrors of addiction and the grotesque distortions of a mind plagued by he**in.

Blood and carnage trail Kali's frantic steps, painting a surreal landscape reminiscent of a Cronenbergian nightmare. Her world becomes an unsettling fusion of Trainspotting's raw desperation and the tragic depth of Les Misérables, all shrouded in the eerie innocence of Charlotte's Web. Each moment on the run intensifies Kali's struggle, as she battles not just for her freedom, but for her sanity.

Caught in this twisted web of her own making, Kali faces a harrowing truth: escape is not just about outrunning her physical pursuers, but confronting the haunting specters of her addiction and the supernatural horrors that they manifest.

Kali's Web is a gripping journey into the heart of darkness, exploring the depths of addiction, the potency of the supernatural, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Will Kali find her way out of the web, or will you, the reader, be caught in the gripping terror of her journey?

Now available on Kindle, paperback, and KU: https://geni.us/KalisWeb

Proudly represented by Torrid Waters, a division of Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!

05/12/2025

Crystal Lake welcomes author Sam Phillips!

Sam's dark cyberpunk vampire novel CRYPTO BLOOD will be released in 2027 through Crystal Lake's Torrid Waters imprint with editor Kenneth W. Cain.

About the story: In Halo City, vampires prey on users of the Crypt, a virtual reality used to generate crypto blood. Addicted to this digital currency tied to people’s life force, Blackrock is an exiled vampire desperate for a way back in. Finding him in the gutter after a confrontation with some flesh avatars, inter-dimensional police officer Vanguard offers him a chance at redemption: hack the Crypt and she’ll restore him to his former glory.

About the author: Australian horror, thriller, and science fiction author Sam M. Phillips is the co-founder and former head editor of Zombie Pirate Publishing. During his tenure he edited and published twenty anthologies, helping hundreds of aspiring authors get their first works in print, as well publishing his own collection INFINITY AND I: Seventy Science Fiction Stories. Switching his focus to writing novels, he first released six cosmic horror and creature feature books through Raven Tale Publishing. Now a full-time writer, he has an on-going relationship with Severed Press, who has published a further six of his horror and thriller novels, with two more on the way and many more planned. His latest release is a shark and megalodon thriller, Abattoir Ocean. His other interests include playing drums in heavy metal bands, collecting and reading books, and juggling.

03/12/2025

02/12/2025

It’s book launch day at Crystal Lake Publishing!
Humbug by Luciano Marano is now available on Kindle, , and paperback.
Order today: https://getbook.at/Humbug

A terrifying new take on the most famous ghost story of all time.

From award-winning author Luciano Marano comes Humbug—a gruesome, noir-infused reimagining of A Christmas Carol that blends supernatural horror, crime thriller, and psychological suspense into one unforgettable holiday nightmare.

“Luciano Marano extracts the DNA of Dickens’s classic tale and rewires it for his own gonzo spin on the noir detective story."—Matthew Mercier, author of Poe & I

In modern-day Seattle, Detective Stuart (Scrooge) Caine is a jaded homicide cop on the edge of burnout. Every Christmas brings another murder, but this year’s case is different. A brilliant psychopath—dubbed “Humbug” by the press—has made a tradition of killing an entire family every December 25th. With the investigation going cold and his career slipping away, Scrooge receives a visitation on Christmas Eve that shatters his skepticism: the ghost of his former partner, Marley, and three monstrous spirits—manifestations of history’s most notorious unsolved killers: Jack the Ripper, Zodiac, and The Cleveland Torso Murderer.

As the line between nightmare and reality blurs, Scrooge is forced to confront his past, his sins, and the darkness waiting for him on Christmas morning.

Humbug is a chilling holiday horror novella—a macabre fusion of ghost story, police procedural, and psychological redemption tale—perfect for fans of A Christmas Ghost Story, Candy Cain Kills, and Hark! The Herald Angels Scream.

Sometimes, the ghosts of Christmas past don’t come to save you…they come to collect.

Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243720769-humbug
Grab your copy here: https://getbook.at/Humbug

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing— Where Stories Come Alive!

01/12/2025

Torrid Waters welcomes author Tom Over!

Tom Over is the 2x Splatterpunk and Wonderland Awards-nominated author of The Comfort Zone and Other Safe Spaces. His work has been featured by PS Publishing, 11:11 Press, Crystal Lake Publishing, Filthy Loot, Anxiety Press, Hybrid Sequence Media and the Splatterpunk Zine, amongst others. The Street That Ate Them is his first novel.

Tom's novel will be released in 2027!

28/11/2025

It’s book launch day!

Some legends never die…they hunt: https://getbook.at/IIDBIW10

Across forests, deserts, oceans, and lonely backroads, something ancient is stirring. Creatures whispered about in campfire stories and buried in folklore are stepping out of the shadows—and they are hungry.

If I Die Before I Wake, Volume 10: Tales of Cryptid Chaos unleashes a chilling anthology of cryptozoological horror from some of today’s most imaginative dark fiction authors. From towering beasts that stalk remote wilderness, to unseen horrors lurking beneath murky lakes, to shapeshifting nightmares hiding in plain sight, these stories drag the world’s most terrifying cryptids out of myth and into modern reality.

Whether you’re fascinated by cryptids, obsessed with unexplained phenomena, or simply love creature-feature horror, this anthology will make you rethink every rustle in the woods and every shadow on the trail.

The line-up includes a foreword by Dan Franklin and stories by Edmund Stone, Bill Mulligan, Lauren Talveryn, R.A. Clarke, Armand J. Asamar, Kristy Sherrod, Heather Ann Larson, Ross Killey, Jon Negroni, Mike West, MJ Mars, David Rider, and Renee M.P.T. Kray.

Perfect for fans of cryptid horror, folklore-based fiction, creature features, supernatural thrillers, and monster survival stories.

Order Today: https://getbook.at/IIDBIW10
Add it on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244194323-if-i-die-before-i-wake



Proudly represented by Sinister Smile Press, a division of Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!

27/11/2025

It's book launch day, @

Are you brave enough to hunt for monsters?

Monster Tracker is your ultimate how-to guide for uncovering the world’s greatest mysteries—from ghosts and Bigfoot to the Loch Ness Monster and aliens! Packed with tips, tricks, and safety rules for young explorers, this interactive adventure book teaches kids how to search for evidence, track clues, and record their discoveries like a real paranormal investigator.

Learn how to:
Spot footprints and strange markings in the wild
Detect ghostly activity in old houses or haunted ships
Watch the skies for UFOs and alien visitors
Search lakes and oceans for legendary sea monsters

The book includes space for kids to write notes, draw what they’ve found, and log their own monster-hunting adventures. Whether you’re exploring your backyard, the woods, or a spooky old building, Monster Tracker will show you how to uncover the truth—while staying safe and having fun!

Perfect for readers ages 8–12 who love monsters, cryptids, and spooky mysteries, this book turns every kid into a fearless explorer of the unknown.

Available in paperback and Kindle: https://getbook.at/MonsterTracker

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Kids—Building Bright Futures Through Books!

04/11/2025

If you love Crystal Lake Publishing, Sinister Smile Press, Torrid Waters, Crystal Cove Press, horror, thrillers, or dark, atmospheric fiction . . . and you want to get closer to the stories and creators who bring those nightmares to life—
this is your moment.

We’re launching the Crystal Lake Street Team—a private Facebook group where our biggest fans and readers help us spread the word about new releases.

Members get early access, ARCs, exclusive free merch (new designs every year), and even the chance to buy paperbacks at cost (of all their favorites)—all we ask is that you share a photo or video when your package arrives.

We'll even have an annual Shadow Awards at the end of every year with awards to our most influential and hardest working members.

So if you want to help bring our brand of horror and dark fiction into the world…

Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/clpstreetteam



Crystal Lake Publishing - Where Stories Come Alive

31/10/2025

It’s book launch day! - https://getbook.at/ShadowsInk3

Want to write horror that truly gets under your reader’s skin? Start with the psychology behind the fear.

The Psychology of Horror Fiction is your guide to understanding what frightens us—and why. More than just an exploration of horror’s greatest tropes and themes, this book helps you use that knowledge to create more powerful, resonant, and unforgettable stories.

Learn how fear works on a psychological level. Discover why certain horrors—like isolation, the unknown, or betrayal—hit harder than others. Understand how culture and trauma shape what readers are afraid of, and how those anxieties evolve over time.

Whether you’re crafting a quiet ghost story or an all-out nightmare, this book offers the insights you need to:
Study and harness common fears and triggers
Build tension using psychological techniques
Explore real-world anxieties through fictional horror
Create deeper emotional experiences for your audience
Write horror that resonates long after the last page

For writers, screenwriters, teachers, and students of the genre, The Psychology of Horror Fiction is an essential tool in your storytelling arsenal. Learn what scares people—and how to use that fear to your advantage.

Start writing horror that truly gets under the skin.

Order today: https://getbook.at/ShadowsInk3
Series page: https://geni.us/ShadowsInkSeries

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing— Where Stories Come Alive!

29/10/2025

Readers gotta start somewhere, right?

Out now from Crystal Lake Kids!

For ages 4 to 10. Available on paperback and hardcover.

The Mouse and the Moon Rocket: https://getbook.at/MoonRocket
The Proud Parakeet: https://getbook.at/ProudParakeet
The Six-Legged Spider: https://getbook.at/SixLeggedSpider

02/10/2025

It has begun!
There's been a murder at the Crystal Lake office. Will you help us solve it:

Here's the link: https://youtu.be/zs7FdG1WxmcThe Halloween Murder Mystery is here… and it’s already claimed its first victim.Join me as I walk through the qu...

26/09/2025

It’s book launch day! - https://geni.us/TestYourTerror

Available on Amazon Kindle and paperback, as well as other eBook retailers.

Think you know your horror history? Prove it with Test Your Terror, the ultimate trivia challenge proudly presented by The House of Shadows & Ink!

Packed with hundreds of spine-chilling questions, this dark trivia book will push your knowledge of horror movies, creepy books, true hauntings, cryptids, and infamous authors to the edge. It’s like Jeopardy!—but with more ghosts, gore, and guillotines.

Challenge your friends, freak out your family, and turn your next game night into a horror showdown. Score points, steal answers, and climb the Horror Historian Ranking from Casual Co**se to Master of the Macabre.

Whether you’re a horror fan, trivia lover, or someone who just enjoys bizarre dinner-table conversation starters, Test Your Terror delivers thrills, chills, and WTF moments on every page.

Perfect for spooky season, toilet-side reads, or late-night battles of horror knowledge.

Available on Amazon Kindle and paperback, as well as other eBook retailers.

Order now: https://geni.us/TestYourTerror