“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

Four Ghosts

Ashe, Paula D.

SUTTON, Christine

Fiction, James Ward Kirk

Edwards, Murphy

Cook,William

There are bones of the dead everywhere, and they’re sharp. Under your feet as you walk across your yard, in the cement of buildings, under the foundation of your home, in the coffee you drink, in the food you eat. Science estimates 100 billion human beings have lived and died. There are bones everywhere. There are skeletons everywhere, from universities to unnamed places we really don’t want to know about. We love skeletons as we are walking skeletons. There’s an old phrase about skeletons in the closet. What if the skeleton in your closet is real? When we look at strangers, friends and family we fail to see the skull behind the face. And the eyes of skulls are dark and deep. These works of art, poetry and short stories cut deep. To the bone.

Bones II

James Ward Kirk

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.

"Surreal journeys through landscapes of the angry and abandoned, the lost and lonely and the weak and wounded. These are the realms of the Dead End Collective." The horror art of Niall Parkinson is used for inspiration for the short stories and poetry included in this anthology. This fully illustrated anthology is a wonderful collection of horror fiction inspired by horror art. Seeing is believing, and horror awaits.

Niall Parkinson No Sight for the Saved

Rose, Rie Sheridan

Hunter, Justin

McWhorter, Greg

Johnson, Alex S.

Rushmore, Lemmy

Cowin, Roger

Augello-Page, Michelle

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Books by James Ward Kirk Publishing