Zines are self-published journals often including work from multiple authors not necessarily curtailed by geographic proximity. They aren’t limited by concessions to the corporate elite and are motivated by the impulse to expression and quality. I came late to the zine scene myself, publishing twelve issues of an irregular smorgasbord of quantum thought called The Gut over a ten year period (2001-2010) before transitioning to an online venue, but I guess I know enough by now to say Tales of Blood and Roses, available HERE, is a zine to set the brains of horror fans on fire. Issue two is 62 pages packed full with poetry, prose, art, pics and cartoons loosely based around hallmarks of this genre, all delivered with exceptional post-normal bleeding-edge quality—swing along to the sad growls of the lovesick prisoner, read about Hillary Lyon’s “Club Crawler” (A vampire? A killer in waiting? A ghost?), enjoy a fine meal bite by bite with the thoughts of Nancy O. Green’s meditative cannibal, chill your spine with the shark-mouthed humor of Earl Crown’s “Rathskeller Rat Killer”, the demonic symbiosis of editor and publisher Jeffrey L. Shipley's "And What Price This Life?" or take a break from immersion in gore and read a review of 6 horror-themed console games by The Enigmatic MZ. “Horror is where you find it!” proclaims the back cover, “From a gunman who finds it on the open trail to a young girl on a dark road: from a crowded shopping mall to a terror filled party. You’ll never have to feel safe again . . .” Halloween is coming! Are you having a party? Tales of Blood and Roses #2, available from is the perfect pumpkin-stuffer for your Halloween Throwdown! And you can say what you like about the bigwigs, the zine community is extremely inclusive and self-supporting; through my connection with Alternating Current Arts Co-op’s Propaganda Press, I made the acquaintance of David S. Pointer, who referred Shipley to me for this highly deserved accolade.
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