“Songs for the Raven” investigates the human condition, trying to establish a literary approach to horror by bringing together stories and poetry that show us thoughtful perspectives of the painful truths that humanity tries to hide from itself, the deep, subconscious currents that run through our collective minds. We express emotion in many ways, often caused by our mood, following established patterns handed down through generations and reinforced in the myriad literary works that we all read at one point in our lives. In many works these emotions seem manufactured, trite even, carefully constructed veils that distract us from the deeper feelings that life itself imparts. This anthology examines those deeper emotions, tries to analyze the feelings through poetry and prose that digs deep into the human condition and that reflects the unsavory aspects of our very souls, bringing shadows to the light or shrouding them in even darker shadows. For where there is light, there is shadow and the authors wonder, at all times, what lies beyond the shadow, what really drives and motivates their characters, uncovering the awkward and uncomfortable facts or our lives and our very existence. Can anyone say they live life truthfully, guileless, free from the burden of little and bigger lies? The authors dare ask these questions and in the ensuing silence they tread on the delicate shards of broken souls, grinding them beneath their stone cold heels, hoping that the feeling will evoke emotions real and raw that spill forth like a song of bitter anguish. And from the shadows, the raven observes, ponders, waits, listens to the songs, selecting the right moment to show painful, blinding truth… Mike Jansen, 2013, Amsterdam

Songs for The Raven

Literature & Fiction

KIrk, James Ward

Short Stories & Anthologies

James Ward Kirk Publishing

Total Worship Allen Griffin:  The Gods seek redemption through my hallowed worship. Too long have their images been defiled by man. Humanity seeks to sanitize the divine, trying to mold the Gods in the image of goodness and in the process denying their wholeness. The clarity of my vision will not bring about the amusement park heaven that the masses dream of so desperately. The only lie that has ever existed is peace. The corpse lies on the table before me. The left eye has been scooped out and the socket filled with caviar. I am forcing the deceased's wife to suck out the fish eggs with her mouth. She retches violently over and over again, the vomit pooling underneath the severed lion's paw that covers the cadaver's right eye. There is no peace, only totality. The universe will reward my understanding.

Indiana Horror Review 2012 Redux

James Ward Kirk Fiction is an independent publishing company specializing in horror, suspense and speculative fiction. We deliver quality fiction, poetry and art at an affordable price. A wide-open approach to fiction makes James Ward Kirk Fiction a publisher to follow. We provide the framework for promoting contributors and their work at the highest possible level. We work with new and established writers. Our number one goal is to provide the highest quality art, professional editing and design for maximum commercial impact.

Red Triangle

Gehlert, Jason

Action & Adventure

Death is inevitable. This collection of art, poetry, flash fiction and short stories address the fact that death is inevitable. The manner of death and the why is important, as is the consequences, before and during the process of death. And what happens after death? Nothing? Everything? Or is it somewhere in between? Remember that we will die. Death is inevitable.

Memento Mori: Remember That You Will Die

This horror anthology addresses not only life, but death. A superior cast of poets and writers show us that living and not living is not easy. Especially not living.

We Are Dust and Shadow

Genre Fiction

<p>The Terror Train rides, from city to city, from village to village, through states, across rivers and mountains. If only it could tell its tales of grisly murder, of demonic pacts, black holes into different dimensions and portals to other realms where the ghosts of train robbers hunt in perpetuity for that elusive bullion filled carriage that cost them their immortal souls. Behold the terrors the train has witnessed, see firsthand the horrors it has lived through and when you get on board, pray, pray you've entered the right one, on the right track, the one that does not lead to oblivion... Terror Train contains stories by new and established authors, with a guest story by William F. Nolan. All aboard!</p>

Terror Train

Danger. Demons involved. Tread lightly, and carry a big cross. Reports of strange occurrences have been reported by those that have read this anthology.

Demonic Possession

Pratt, Essel

Tyrer, DJ

Smithee, Allan

Ledger, John

Wynn, E. S.

Stickel, W. B.

Burtenshaw, Guy

McClymont, M J

Black, Doug J.

Everyone likes a good ghost story. You'll find this collection both entertaining and haunting. Some of the biggest names in horror have come together to offer their take on what it might be like to be a ghost, and an angry ghost, the kind of ghost not soon forgotten. Have you ever seen a ghost? If you've seen a ghost like one of these, well, then likely you are reading this as a ghost--and angry, with a story of your own to tell. Now, look over your shoulder. Go ahead. Be frightened by what you see. You may, in fact, already be haunting these pages. Beware the ghost in the machine!

Ghosts: Revenge

Imagine… An old house; one that has stood many generations. WAITING… You step inside and begin to explore. Was this a good idea? You begin to doubt, but continue to step deeper within the eerie darkness. Something stirs above. Should you investigate? Wandering, you reach the second floor landing. In the center of the upstairs hall, directly above, you discover a trap door. You know, the one that leads to something so terrible, you dare not think to touch it, much less attempt to open the latch! Nevertheless, you are drawn to inspect further. Something is stirring above… of this, you have no doubt. You stand upon tiptoe, stretching as far as your fingers will allow, until you grasp the cord attached to the door. With a loud creaking, it opens, releasing a set of stairs, descending before you. Gazing up, there is nothing but a black hole. There! Again! That stirring! Against your better judgement, you begin to climb. Sweat forms upon your brow with each step, as your stomach turns sour. Still, you climb. Those few stairs feel an eternity to ascend. There at the top, nothing. Dark and empty… nothing. Your eyes adjust… Wait! Beneath the cobwebs and years of layered dust, stands a long, wooden chest. Is it locked? Hmmm… You step within the musty room. There, propped against the side of the chest, an old metal rod. You pick it up, using it to pry open what should have been left locked away, eternally. Toys! Old toys! Somewhere in the darkness, a melody plays, soft and haunting. A music box? NO! A small carousel is moving beside you, its once colorful horses bobbing in time. You look about. There are toys everywhere! Old, broken, forgotten toys fill this attic room. A doll, cracked skull, hairless, limbs askew, stares from behind one eye, the other an empty, hollow socket. A rocking horse begins to sway in the corner. Toy soldiers, their green metal chipped and rusted. How odd; they appear in battle stance, staring… Suddenly, the trap door closes. Darkness… the stirring… These toys… You know why they have been locked away. You stand among evil incarnate. The melody stops. No one hears your final cries… TOYS IN THE ATTIC: A COLLECTION OF EVIL PLAYTHINGS is an anthology of horror like no other. Step inside…WELCOME TO THE ATTIC

Toys in the Attic

Lutzke, Chad

Day, Nicholas

Mays, Jeremy

Woodbury, Sheldon

Edwards, Murphy

Scott, D. S.

Fox, Dona

Johnson, Alex S.

Crow, Sebastion

Rowe, Coralie

Lopez, Lori R.

Williams, Mimi

Keene, A. Henry

Rushmore, Lemmy

Powell, Rick

H. R. Boldwood

"Lovecraft After Dark," a is new collection of horror from JWK Fiction, edited by James Ward Kirk and Roger Cowin. We offer short fiction and poetry blending sensuality with the Mythos. Passionate encounters, forbidden romances between humans and the gods and demons of Lovecraft's world. Ever wonder what obscene romance produced the human / elder god hybrid, Wilbur Whateley? How did the Black Goat of the Wood come to have a thousand young? These are just a few of the ideas explored in "Lovecraft After Dark." Explore what Lovecraft only hinted at. Let your imagination go wild. We did.

Lovecraft after Dark

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Books by KIrk, James Ward