WRITERS OF THE WEIRD: H.R. WAKEFIELD

Called by August Derleth "the last major representative of a ghost story tradition that began with Sheridan Le Fanu and reached its peak with Montague Rhodes James", Herbert Russell Wakefield (May, 9 1888 – August 2, 1964) was one of the great masters of the classic ghost story.

As a young man, Wakefield received his education at Marlborough College and University College, Oxford. As a member of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, he fought in both France and the Balkans during the First World War.

Several years after the war he was the chief editor at William Collins, Sons and Co. where he used his experiences in the publishing milieu for the some of the weird fiction he became fascinated with.

Influenced primarily by M.R. James and Algernon Blackwood, Wakefield believed in ghosts and unexplained phenomena and used true events as the inspiration for a number of his stories. In his introduction below to the Bantam paperback, "Stories from the Clock Strikes 12", he wrote: "I am convinced that there are perfectly authenticated cases of the most versatile psychic phenomena, for the very good reason that I have experienced them myself."

Wakefield did not limit himself solely to writing ghost stories; he also had an interest in criminology and wrote two non-fiction books and three novels on the subject.

In 1946, August Derleth published a collection of Wakefield's ghost stories under the Arkham House imprint. It is reported that not long before his death, Wakefield's wife posted a letter to Derleth explaining that her husband had destroyed all his correspondence, manuscripts and photos of himself.

It is interesting to note that decades later, in 1978, John Murray published "The Best Ghost Stories of H. Russell Wakefield", edited by Richard Dalby, which included some previously uncollected tales. In addition, Ash Tree Press published a book in 2000 titled, "Reunion at Dawn and Other Uncollected Ghost Stories", also containing a number of Wakefield's previously unpublished stories.

H.R. Wakefield's short story collections:

• They Return at Evening (1928)
• Old Man's Beard: Fifteen Disturbing Tales (1929)
• Imagine a Man in a Box (1931)
• Ghost Stories (1932)
• A Ghostly Company (1935)
• The Clock Strikes Twelve: Tales of the Supernatural (1940)
• Strayers from Sheol (1961)

Selections from "The Clock Strikes 12 (Arkham House). Cover by Richard Powers.

"Why I Write Ghost Stories" (1946):

"Used Car", first published in "Ghost Stories" (1932):

CLASSIC MONSTERS BY MODERN ARTISTS

Newly published by Insight Editions, Anthony Taylor's book, CLASSIC MONSTERS, MODERN ART is a look at 20th century horror by 21st century illustrators.

Available for purchase HERE.

Preface by David Dastmalchian. By Anthony Taylor. Art by Doug P’Gosh, Bob Eggleton, Mitch O’Connell, Gregory Manchess, Mike Hoffman et al. From Frankenstein’s monster to Count Dracula, Elvira to Godzilla, King Kong to Freddy Kruger, this is the definitive visual compendium of the greatest movie monsters, featuring exclusive artwork from more than 65 artists accompanied by a richly detailed chronicle from genre expert Anthony Taylor, who brings together the canonical and the contemporary, creating a riveting journey through the history of film’s most iconic monsters by way of modern art.

From the publisher:

What we now know as horror was born on a rainy night in 1816, when a candle-lit writing contest between famous friends spawned Frankenstein... and eventually grew into an international genre and film sensation! Classic Monsters, Modern Art documents and reimagines the trajectory of Gothic horror––from film’s silent era all the way to the turn of the millennium.

Featuring exclusive artwork from more than 45 artists and a richly detailed chronicle from genre expert Anthony Taylor, this incredible volume brings together the canonical and the contemporary to create a truly original, timeless experience: a riveting journey through the history of film’s most iconic monsters by way of modern art.

ICONIC MONSTERS: From Frankenstein’s monster to Count Dracula, Elvira to Godzilla, King Kong to Freddy Kruger, this is the definitive visual compendium of the greatest movie monsters.

45+ ARTISTS: This book breathes new life into beloved classics, featuring exclusive artwork from more than 45 contemporary illustrators, cartoonists, and painters.

TIMELESS QUALITY: This hardcover volume provides a deluxe experience, with full-color artwork of the highest caliber and a design firmly entrenched in the genre that inspired it. A gorgeous coffee-table book that will stand the test of time.

Format: Hardcover

Publication Date: 2/10/2026

ISBN: 9798886637366

Pages: 184

Trim Size: 9.25 x 11

Retail price: $39.99

About the author:

Anthony Taylor, Author: Anthony Taylor is a writer and the organizer of Monsterama, an Atlanta retro horror and science fiction convention. His articles have appeared in Famous Monsters of Filmland, Fangoria, Screem, Horror Hound, Retro Fan, SFX, Video WatcH*Dog, FilmFax and many other magazines. His books include The Future Was FAB: The Art of Mike Trim, Arctic Adventure! An Official Thunderbirds™ novel, and The Art of George Wilson. In June 2024, he was inducted into the Rondo Hattan Classic Horror Awards Monster Kid Hall of Fame.

R.L. STINE HAS A NEW BOOK

Not completely resting on his laurels, R.L. Stein has authored a new horror novel aimed at young adults (and adults who grew up reading them the first time around). Judging from the cover, it does not appear to be a book in the Goosebumps series.

This article from USA TODAY includes the first chapter.

An everything bagel inspired R.L. Stine's new scary book.

By Clare Mulroy | Feb. 13, 2026 | usatoday.com

Between his own bibliography and a creepily decorated home office, R.L. Stine has enough spooky material for a lifetime of inspiration.

So why was it an everything bagel that led him to write his upcoming book, “Nightmare on Nightmare Street”? Like the delicious combination of salt, sesame seeds, onion and poppy seeds, Stine’s latest work has a little something for everyone – kids and adults alike. 

“What if I wrote an Everything Book?” Stine writes in the book's introduction. “What if I wrote one of my scary novels and put in all the different kinds of scares my readers tell me they like? Not just two kids trapped in a haunted house. Or a family battling an evil monster. Or an after-school vampire attack. Or a doll coming to life. What if I mixed into a book all kinds of horrors at once? What if I concocted a story with new versions of the horrors I’ve created before? An Everything Scary Story.”

USA TODAY is revealing an exclusive excerpt of the first chapter of “Nightmare on Nightmare Street,” which Stine hopes will keep readers “guessing until the very last chapter.”

Read the first chapter of ‘Nightmare on Nightmare Street’ by R.L. Stine

“Joe, you’ve seen too many scary movies,” Mr. Ferber said. “I know you’re a little freaked out your first night in this house.”

Joe rolled his eyes. “A little freaked out? Dad, don’t you hear the ghost children cackling on the 

stairway? What about the words go home sprayed in blood on the kitchen wall? The walls are dripping with evil.”

Joe’s dad sighed. He ran a hand back through his thinning brown hair. “I’m going to take away your Netflix. Really. You’ve got to forget about those creepy movies you and Sadie watch when your mom and I go out.”

“You’ll be okay, Joe,” Sadie said. “Dad already put a night-light in your room.”

“Shut up, Sadie,” Joe snapped. “A night-light isn’t going to protect me from the Headless Beast from Behind the Garage.”

“Is that really a movie?” Mr. Ferber said. “You know this is all in your head, Joe.”

Sadie laughed. “Joe’s head has been invaded by alien creatures who came to eat his brain.”

“Shut up,” Joe grumbled. “You’re way not funny. I know you’re just as scared as I am to be in this house.”

Sadie was thirteen. Joe was twelve. She stood a foot shorter than Joe, but she was tough. She gave him a hard shove that sent him tumbling back against the staircase banister. “Am not scared!”

“You are, too!” Joe shot back.

“Am not!” Sadie shook her fist at Joe. Her curly copper hair bounced on her head, as if ready for a fight. Mr. Ferber stepped between them. “Give me a break, okay? Let’s not fight over who’s more scared.” He pushed Sadie’s fist down and squeezed her hand.

“We’ve already been through this,” he said. “It’s a creaky old house. It’s old and run-down, okay? But the house isn’t haunted. It isn’t cursed with evil. No curse. No ghosts. Just some weak, rotting floorboards and walls that need to be painted.”

“I’ll turn on your night-light for you,” Sadie told Joe. “And if you want, little baby, I’ll hold your hand till you fall asleep.” She burst out laughing.

Joe scowled at her. He didn’t think she was funny. “Dad, tell her to stop.”

“Both of you, stop,” Mr. Ferber said. “You’ll feel a lot better after your first night here.”Mrs. Ferber came down the stairs, carrying an empty carton in front of her. “I unpacked some of your things,” she said. She set the carton down and blew a strand of dark hair off her forehead. “Your pajamas are in your top dresser drawer.”

“We can’t stay here,” Joe said.

His mom squinted at him. “This again? Haven’t we been over this before?”

“Mom, listen to me—” Joe started.

But Mrs. Ferber raised a hand to stop him. “Joe, there are two kinds of houses in this world,” she said. “Old houses and new houses. We couldn’t afford a new house. So we bought an old house. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just old.”

“Not true,” Joe insisted. He turned to Sadie. “Show Mom and Dad the doll we found in the closet upstairs.”

Sadie picked up a doll from the back of the stairwell and held it up to her parents. It was a soft rag doll with tangled red hair, wearing a stained smock, torn across the front. The doll’s round black eyes were fixed in an intense stare.

Mrs. Ferber took the doll from Sadie and studied it. Then she raised her eyes to Sadie. “So? What’s so interesting? Someone left a doll behind when they moved out.”

“No,” Joe said. He grabbed the doll and raised it in front of him. “Look at this doll. Look at it. This doll has been in a hundred movies.”

His mom and dad exchanged glances. “Seriously?”

“The doll is cursed!” Joe exclaimed. “It’s totally evil. Look at the eyes. Look at that evil stare.” Joe’s voice rose to a shrill cry.

Mr. Ferber placed a hand on Joe’s shoulder. “Calm down,” he said softly. “Take a breath.”

Their mom shook her head. “I swear,” she said. “How can you be scared of a beat-up old rag doll?”

“But—but—haven’t you seen the movies?” Joe sputtered.

His dad took the doll and tossed it into the empty carton. “Enough,” he said. “We can continue this in the morning. After you’ve had a good night’s sleep in your new home.”

“Go on up to your rooms,” Mrs. Ferber said, motioning to the stairs. “Stop being silly.”

“Your rooms are right across the hall from one another,” Mr. Ferber said. “You can keep an eye on each other.”

“No way. I’m locking my door,” Joe said.

“The doors don’t have locks yet,” their mother said.

Joe sighed. “I’m doomed. We’re all doomed.”

“Goodnight. Get upstairs,” Mr. Ferber said.

Sadie started up the stairs. But Joe didn’t move.

“Listen, you two,” he said to his parents. “Were you in the basement? Did you see the gravestones down there? People are buried down there! Buried in our basement!”

His dad patted Joe’s shoulder again. “Joe,” he said, “I told you this place is a fixer-upper."