Title: The Thing in Christmas Town
Author: Iseult Murphy
Publisher: Silver Thistle Press
Length: 30k words
Genre: Horror, Christmas-themed, cosmic horror
Content warnings: Trauma over accident that resulted in death, grief, depictions of death, disgusting food, trauma over miscarriage, physical violence, suicidal thoughts
Cover designer: Iseult Murphy
Cover art: Iseult Murphy
Cover reveal day: 24th October
Release day: 21st November
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219227975-the-thing-in-christmas-town
Book Link: https://rxe.me/W5467H
Alt text for the cover
In an illustration against a faded beige background, like an old-fashioned holiday card, a woman in a skirt, warm jacket, hat, gloves and boots feeds a piece of bloody meat to a snowman. The snowman has blood around its mouth and its stick arms are raised eagerly towards the woman. There’s red and green text at the top in ornate letters with snow on top of them and surrounded by holly berries and leaves. The Thing in Christmas Town (title). Plain text surrounded by holly leaves at the bottom of the image gives the author’s name as Iseult Murphy.
"Welcome to Christmas Town, where it is Christmas every day!
Visit the town where your wishes come true. Recapture the magic of your youth. Find love and happiness.
You’ll never want to leave.
"Christmas was once Diane’s favourite holiday, but she can’t face it after the tragic accident that took her husband’s life shortly before the festive season.
Wishing to recapture the happy times of their youth, Diane’s grown children take her to Ireland’s latest attraction. Christmas Town, nestled in the Cavan hills, where it is Christmas 365 days a year.
"There’s something about Christmas Town that unsettles Diane. Maybe it’s the fixed, happy smiles of the people who work there. Perhaps it’s the odd images in the wallpaper, or the blood that seeps out of the snow. Could it be her grief that’s stopping her from being happy?
"As reality warps around her, Diane realises that leaving is not an option. In a place where wishes come true, Diane’s one wish is to save her family, even if she must confront The Thing in Christmas Town to do it."
About the Author
Iseult Murphy is an Irish multi-genre author. Her writing combines dark themes with a dose of humour to entertain and bring a new perspective on the complexities of life. She loves to explore how the most dangerous monsters wear the most pleasing masks. Her experience with chronic illness and mental health issues inspires her stories. She is the author of 7 Days in Hell, which was a finalist in the IAN Book of the Year Awards. She has published nine books and her short fiction has appeared in over forty publications, including Creepy Podcast and Cosmic Crime Stories. Find out more about her and her writing at https://iseultmurphy.com/ or follow her on Twitter @AuthorIseult.
Social links:
@authoriseult.bsky.social
About Silver Thistle Press
Established in November 2023, Silver Thistle Press is an independent publisher of horror, Gothic and supernatural fiction based in the U.K. Focusing primarily on short story anthologies and novellas, our books are perfect for dark nights spent curled up by the fire with a mug of hot chocolate.
Social Links:
Newsletter: https://silverthistlepress.substack.com/
