Tasmaniac are proud to announce their next release, CRUEL SUMMER by Matt Venne. Available to pre-order for a July 25th release.

Introduced by Joe R. Lansdale
Cover and internal illustrations by Daniele Serra

CRUEL SUMMER is a dark coming-of-age tale, set in the summer of 1985 against the very real backdrop of the atrocities committed by the infamous serial killer who came to be known the world over as The Night Stalker.

When young Jim Craine learns about The Night Stalker's bloody rampage through the Los Angeles county neighborhoods that surround his small hometown, he begins to realize that life isn't as idyllic in his suburban neighborhood as he had once believed.

Beneath the sunny streets, green lawns, and rows of shiny happy tract houses lurks a dark underbelly of secrets and shadows and lies: when the body of a young woman is found in the neighboring streets, the peaceful veneer of life in suburbia is forever shattered.

As the blood spilled by the Night Stalker swirls into an ever-tightening whirlpool that threatens to suck Jim into its deadly abyss, the young man will come to discover that some of life's greatest horrors are those that are quietly scratching at the thin stucco walls between happiness and sorrow.


A haunting coming-of-age story about that shadowed land from which none of us emerges unscathed - our own childhoods.
Don't be fooled by his easy, conversational voice, either - Matt Venne is going to take you to some dark places...all the more heart-wrenching for being real.
-Michael Marshall - Bad things, The Intruders
-Writing as Michael Marshall Smith - The Servants

Cruel Summer manages to be intensely personal, nerve-wracking, deeply humane, down-and-out nasty, and compulsively readable all within the space of fewer pages than it takes most perennial bestsellers to get started. This is the real stuff, folks: a heart very much in the pulps of the 40s and 50s, with timeless sensibilities, and a pace that makes most Richard Stark and Joe Lansdale novels look like they're standing still.
This one's a sharp kick in the gut, heart, and head. Strap in and open the first page. Have bandages ready. And your living will up to date.
-5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner Gary A. Braunbeck - Coffin County, Far Dark Fields

Available in two states:
100 signed & numbered softcovers - $14 US
26 lettered hard covers, leather-bound and slipcased (signed by Matt, Joe & Dani) - $80 US

Order from:

Matt's bio:

Matt Venne received his BA in English from UCLA, and his MFA in Film from USC. His Masters of Horror episode Pelts (based on the F. Paul Wilson short story) was directed by Dario Argento (Suspiria), and he wrote an episode of Fear Itself entitled Spooked which was directed by Brad Anderson (Session 9). Matt is currently adapting Stephen King's Bag of Bones for Mick Garris (The Stand) to direct. Matt and his wife, Brynna, live in Los Angeles with their two daughters.

Lettered and limited for me, thanks Steve.

Sounds right up my alley.

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As of today - 16 remaining copies available from publisher. This will be very cool if we can sell out pre-publication.

Do you enjoy coming of age stories? Know someone who does? Spread the word!

Steve.

That was quick!

Nice work Steve

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Down to single figures - pre-order your copy now!

Steve.

Pre-publication sell-out

Try these outlets to pick up a copy:
US
UK
AUS

Just got asked to pay for mine! I hope the payment makes it in good shape, Australia is so darn far away.

And I hear that they have "things" in the water there. I saw 'Open Water' you know!

Ttzuma

WOW - talk about superfast - got mine today. It looks GREAT.

In looking through the cool interior artwork by Daniele Serra - did Paul know you included an ad for Thunderstorm Books in the last illustration?

Keep Smiling, Jan

Batch of CRUEL SUMMER soft covers arrived at my door today

Very happy with how they've turned out (as I used a different printer on this).

Cool.

The softcover turned out great! I love the number page. The feel of the book is neat and I love the print. Good job!

Halfway through and am loving it. Should finish it today.

Tt

Finished it yesterday. I am hoping to have a review in Horrorworld for August.

Tt

Got my copy today. Very nice, Steve. Glad you made the decision to move to signed/limited softcovers.

Great looking production. Can't wait to get stuck in.

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Read and finished this a few days ago (decided I couldn't wait for the hard cover). Big thumbs up from me. Very well written tale that had me thinking of MIDNIGHT RAIN after I'd finished it. I can see how this would have easily under many authors became a much longer piece, but Matt's focus on sticking to the story and not getting sidetracked kept it fluid and moving quickly.

I've added Matt as an author to watch and try to pick up more of his work as it's released. Good score with this one, Steve.

Lettered arrived yesterday. Very nice! This will be next on my tbr pile.

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Read a review of Cruel Summer right here in Horrorworld! About 1/4 of the way down the page.

http://www.horrorworld.org/reviews.htm

US distributor received the slip covers today so hardcover invoices are going out now.

Steve.

Received my Lettered edition. Amazing quality. Hats off! Moving to the top of the TBR pile.

Just heard CRUEL SUMMER has been recommended for a Bram Stoker award in the long fiction category - to even be at the recommended stage is beyond cool

Steve.

CONGRATS Matt & Steve




Jan