Cemetery Dance is an American company known for their specialty press publisher of horror and dark suspense and their horror magazine of the same name. Cemetery Dance was founded by

Richard Chizmar Richard Thomas Chizmar (born 1965) is an American writer, the publisher and editor of '' Cemetery Dance'' magazine, and the owner of Cemetery Dance Publications. He also edits anthologies, produces films, writes screenplays, and teaches writi ...

, a horror author, while he was in college. Cemetery Dance Publications was formed in 1992 after Chizmar and the company's success with ''Cemetery Dance'' magazine, another branch which was founded in 1988. They later expanded to encompass a magazine and website featuring news, interviews, and reviews related to horror literature. Cemetery Dance Publications is known for their high quality hardcover releases. These are usually available as collectible autographed

limited edition The terms special edition, limited edition, and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition or expanded edition are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as b ...

s and lettered editions.

History

Cemetery Dance was first founded as a literary magazine by Richard Chizmar in 1988, during his final year of college at the University of Maryland's College of Journalism. Chizmar named the magazine after one of his short stories and wanted it to feature dark fiction akin to what he saw on ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology series, anthology television series created by Rod Serling in which characters find themselves dealing with often disturbing or unusual events, an experience described ...

'' and ''

Night Gallery ''Night Gallery'' is an American anthology television series that aired on NBC from December 16, 1970, to May 27, 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, '' The Twilight Zon ...

''. The first issue was published in December 1988; prior to its release the company publicized ''Cemetery Dance'' heavily in genre magazines and "practically anywhere else we could afford an ad". Chizmar originally intended for the magazine to release no more than twice a year, however in 1990 the decision was made to publish four issues a year. The company initially solicited authors through writers' organizations and publishers contacts; over time the magazine began to receive submissions from authors and literary agents. In their 14th issue the magazine would publish

Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...

's short story " Chattery Teeth", marking the start of the company's work with King. In 1992 the book publishing wing of Cemetery Dance was launched; Chizmar has stated that both branches of the company were launched for roughly the same reason: that he "saw an opportunity to put some of my favorite authors in hardcover and the temptation was too much to resist." For the first few years of the book imprint's existence the company published about two to three hardcovers a year, which increased as the company's sales and experience grew. The first book published by Cemetery Dance was '' Prisoners & Other Stories'' by Ed Gorman and featured an afterword by

Dean Koontz Dean Ray Koontz (born July 9, 1945) is an American author. His novels are billed as thriller (genre), suspense thrillers, but frequently incorporate elements of horror fiction, horror, fantasy, science fiction, Mystery fiction, mystery, and sati ...

. In 2007 the company moved to their Forest Hill, Maryland location.

Awards

won the 1999

World Fantasy Award The World Fantasy Awards are a set of awards given each year for the best fantasy fiction published during the previous calendar year. Organized and overseen by the World Fantasy Convention, the awards are given each year at the eponymous ann ...

for Cemetery Dance Publications (the magazine won in 1990 and 1992). It was also nominated for the same award in 1993 and again in 1998. * ''Dark Harvest'' by

Norman Partridge Norman Partridge (born May 28, 1958) is an American writer of horror and mystery fiction. He has written two detective novels about retired boxer Jack Baddalach, ''Saguaro Riptide'' and ''The Ten Ounce Siesta''. He is also the author of a Cro ...

won the 2006

Bram Stoker Award The Bram Stoker Award is a recognition presented annually by the Horror Writers Association (HWA) for "superior achievement" in dark fantasy and horror writing. History The Awards were established in 1987 and have been presented annually since ...

for Best Long Fiction, has been nominated for the 2007

, and it was named one of the 2006 "Best Books of the Year" by

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

. *'' Basic Black: Tales of Appropriate Fear'' by

Terry Dowling Terence William (Terry) Dowling (born 21 March 1947), is an Australian writer and journalist. He is primarily a writer of speculative fiction but refers to himself as an "imagier" – one who imagines, a term which liberates his writing from th ...

was an Honourable Mention for the 2006

Australian Shadows Award The Australian Shadows Awards, also known as the Australasian Shadows Awards, are annual literary awards established by the Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) in 2005 to honour the best published works of horror fiction written or edit ...

(hosted by the

Australian Horror Writers Association The Australian Horror Writers Association (AHWA) is a non-profit organisation that commenced in 2003 with the goal of providing a unified voice and sense of community for Australians, Australian writers of dark fiction (Horror fiction, horror an ...

Bram Stoker Award nominations and wins

*2006

Winners: : Long Fiction: ''Dark Harvest'' by

Short Fiction A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...

: "Tested" by

Lisa Morton Lisa Morton (born December 11, 1958) is an American Horror fiction, horror author and screenwriter. Biography Morton was born in Pasadena, California, and entered the film industry in 1979 as a modelmaker on ''Star Trek: The Motion Picture''. ...

, in CD #55 : Fiction Collection: ''Destinations Unknown'' by

Gary A. Braunbeck Gary A. Braunbeck (born July 1, 1960) is an American science fiction, fantasy, mystery and horror author. Biography Braunbeck was born in Newark, Ohio (the city that serves as the model for the fictitious Cedar Hill in many of his stories). He ...

Anthology In book publishing, an anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler; it may be a collection of plays, poems, short stories, songs, or related fiction/non-fiction excerpts by different authors. There are also thematic and g ...

: ''Mondo Zombie'' edited by

John Skipp John Skipp (born May 20, 1957) is a splatterpunk horror and fantasy author and anthology editor, as well as a songwriter, screenwriter, film director, and film producer. He collaborated with Craig Spector on multiple novels, and has also colla ...

*2004 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :

First Novel A debut novel is the first novel a novelist publishes. Debut novels are often the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to p ...

: ''Black Fire'' by James Kidman :Short Fiction: "A Madness of Starlings" by

Douglas Clegg Douglas Clegg (born April 1, 1958) is an American horror and dark fantasy author, and a pioneer in the field of e-publishing. He maintains a strong Internet presence through his website. Early life Born in Alexandria, Virginia to a "family of ...

in CD #50 :Fiction Collection: ''The Machinery of Night'' by

:Anthology: ''Shivers III'' edited by Richard Chizmar :

Non-Fiction Non-fiction (or nonfiction) is any document or content (media), media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real life, real world, rather than being grounded in imagination. Non-fiction typically aims to pre ...

: ''The Road to the Dark Tower'' by

Bev Vincent Bev Vincent is an essayist author of fiction and a literary critic, he also is the author of ''The Road to the Dark Tower'' and ''The Stephen King Illustrated Companion.'' Selected bibliography *''The Road to the Dark Tower'' (2005, Cemetery Da ...

*2004 Bram Stoker Award Winner: :Fiction Collection: ''Fearful Symmetries'' by

Thomas F. Monteleone Thomas Francis Monteleone (born April 14, 1946) is an American science fiction author and horror fiction author."Monteleone, Thomas F(rancis)", by Don D'Ammassa in David Pringle, ''St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost & Gothic Writers''. London : St ...

*2003 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :Long Fiction: ''The Necromancer'' by

:Long Fiction: ''Roll Them Bones'' by

David Niall Wilson David Niall Wilson (born 1959 in Clay County, Illinois) is an American writer primarily known for his works of horror, science fiction, and fantasy fiction. He is also the founder and CEO of Crossroad Press, a publishing house for horror and sci ...

*2002 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :Novel: '' From a Buick 8'' by

:Fiction Collection: ''Knuckles and Tales'' by

Nancy A. Collins Nancy A. Collins (born September 10, 1959) is an American horror fiction writer best known for her series of vampire novels featuring her character Sonja Blue. Collins has also written for comic books, including the ''Swamp Thing'' (vol. 2) ser ...

:Anthology: ''Shivers'' edited by

*2001 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :Anthology: ''Trick or Treat: A Collection of Halloween Novellas'' edited by

*2001 Bram Stoker Award Winner: : Alternative Forms: ''Dark Dreamers: Facing the Masters of Fear'' by Beth Gwinn & Stanley Wiater *2000 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :Anthology: ''Bad News'' edited by

Richard Laymon Richard Carl Laymon (January 14, 1947 – February 14, 2001) was an American author of suspense and horror fiction, particularly within the splatterpunk subgenre. Life and career Laymon was born and raised outside of Chicago, Illinois, then l ...

:Short Fiction:

Jack Ketchum Dallas William Mayr (November 10, 1946 – January 24, 2018), better known by his pen name Jack Ketchum, was an American horror fiction author. He was the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. His novels inclu ...

's "Gone" (published in the anthology '' October Dreams'') *2000 Bram Stoker Award Winner: :Novel: ''The Traveling Vampire Show'' by

*1999 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :Long Fiction: ''Right to Life'' by

*1999 Bram Stoker Award Winner: :Anthology: ''999: New Stories of Horror and Suspense'' edited by

Al Sarrantonio Al Sarrantonio (May 25, 1952 – January 27, 2025) was an American horror and science fiction writer, editor, and publisher who authored more than 50 books and 90 short stories. He also edited numerous anthologies. Background and education Sar ...

*1998 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :Anthology: '' Robert Bloch's Psychos'' edited by

Robert Bloch Robert Albert Bloch (; April 5, 1917September 23, 1994) was an American fiction writer, primarily of crime fiction, crime, psychological horror fiction, horror and Fantasy Fiction, fantasy, much of which has been dramatized for radio, cinema and ...

and

Martin H. Greenberg Martin Harry Greenberg (March 1, 1941 – June 25, 2011) was an American academic and anthologist in many genres, including mysteries and horror, but especially in speculative fiction. In all, he compiled 1,298 anthologies and commissioned ...

:Anthology: ''Best of Cemetery Dance'' edited by

*1997 Bram Stoker Award Nominees: :Fiction Collection: ''Things Left Behind'' by

*1994 Bram Stoker Award Winners: :Short Fiction: "The Box" by

in CD #20 :Fiction Collection: ''Writer of the Purple Rage'' by Joe R. Lansdale

Selected list of books published by Cemetery Dance Publications

*'' It: The 25th Anniversary Edition'' (signed limited edition) by

(December 2011) *''

Gwendy's Button Box ''Gwendy's Button Box'' is a horror fiction, horror novella by American writers Stephen King and Richard Chizmar. It was announced by ''Entertainment Weekly'' on February 28, 2017. The American edition published by Cemetery Dance included illustr ...

'' by

and

(novella first published by Cemetery Dance Publications) (May 2017) *''

Full Dark, No Stars ''Full Dark, No Stars'', published in November 2010, is a collection of four novellas by American author Stephen King, all dealing with the theme of retribution. One of the novellas, ''1922'', is set in Hemingford Home, Nebraska, which is the h ...

'' (signed limited edition) by

(December 2010) *'' Blockade Billy'' by

(an original novella first printed by Cemetery Dance Publications) (April 2010) *'' The Secretary of Dreams: Volume 1'' (and ''Volume 2'') by

and illustrated by

Glenn Chadbourne Glenn Chadbourne (born October 19, 1959) is an American artist. He lives in Newcastle, Maine. He is best known for his work in the horror and fantasy genres, having created covers and illustrated books and magazines for publishers such as Ce ...

(2006) (''Volume IIs ) *'' From a Buick 8'' (signed limited edition) by Stephen King (2002) *'' The Dark Man: An Illustrated Poem'' by

and illustrated by

(2013) *'' Robert Bloch's Psychos'', edited by

(1997) *'' October Dreams: A Celebration of Halloween'', edited by Richard Chizmar with Robert Morrish (2000) *''Blue November Storms'', by Brian Freeman (2005) *''

Strange Highways ''Strange Highways'' is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Dio, released on October 25, 1993, through Vertigo Records in Europe, and on January 26, 1994, through Reprise Records in the U.S. It was the band’s first album since ...

'', by

(1995) *''

Fear Nothing ''Fear Nothing'' is a novel released in 1998 by the best-selling author Dean Koontz. The book is the first installment in what is reported to be a three-part series of books, known as the Moonlight Bay Trilogy, featuring Christopher Snow, who ...

'', by Dean Koontz (1997) *''

Seize the Night "Seize the night" is a traditional translation of the Latin phrase '' carpe noctem'' ("enjoy the night", literally "pluck (or harvest) the night"). Seize the Noctem may also refer to: * ''Seize the Night'' (novel), a 1998 novel by Dean Koontz * " ...

'', by Dean Koontz (1998) *''

False Memory In psychology, a false memory is a phenomenon where someone recalls something that did not actually happen or recalls it differently from the way it actually happened. Suggestibility, activation of associated information, the incorporatio ...

'', by Dean Koontz (1999) *'' Mucho Mojo'' signed limited edition by Joe R. Lansdale (1994) *'' Act of love'' signed limited edition by Joe R. Lansdale (1981) *'' Writer of the Purple Rage'' short story collection by Joe R. Lansdale (1994) *'' Nothing Lasting''

E-book An ebook (short for electronic book), also spelled as e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in electronic form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. Al ...

by Glen Krisch

Selected list of published authors

Clive Barker Clive Barker (born 5 October 1952) is an English writer, filmmaker, and visual artist. He came to prominence in the 1980s with a series of short stories collectively named the ''Books of Blood'', which established him as a leading horror author ...

Charles Beaumont Charles Beaumont (born Charles Leroy Nutt; January 2, 1929 – February 21, 1967) was an American author of speculative fiction, including short stories in the horror and science fiction subgenres.Stefan R. Dziemianowicz, "Beaumont, Charles" ...

William Peter Blatty William Peter Blatty (January 7, 1928 – January 12, 2017) was an American writer, director and producer. He is best known for his 1971 novel ''The Exorcist (novel), The Exorcist'' and for his screenplay for The Exorcist, the 1973 film adaptat ...

Max Booth III Max Booth III (born July 4, 1993) is an American author, screenwriter, and publisher best known for their work in the horror field. Their nonfiction writing has appeared in LitReactor, CrimeReads, the San Antonio Current, Fangoria, and Film-14. ...

Ray Bradbury Ray Douglas Bradbury ( ; August 22, 1920June 5, 2012) was an American author and screenwriter. One of the most celebrated 20th-century American writers, he worked in a variety of genres, including fantasy, science fiction, Horror fiction, horr ...

*Kealan Patrick Burke *

Poppy Z. Brite William Joseph Martin (born May 25, 1967), formerly Poppy Z. Brite, is an American author. He initially achieved fame in the Gothic fiction, gothic horror genre of literature in the early 1990s by publishing a string of successful novels and shor ...

Lincoln Child Lincoln Child (born October 13, 1957) is an American author of techno-thriller and horror novels. Though he is most well known for his collaborations with Douglas Preston (including the Agent Pendergast series and the Gideon Crew series, among ...

* Simon Clark *

Justin Cronin Justin Cronin (born 1962) is an American author. He has written six novels: ''Mary and O'Neil, The Ferryman,'' and ''The Summer Guest'', as well as a vampire trilogy consisting of ''The Passage (Cronin novel), The Passage,'' ''The Twelve (novel ...

Frank Darabont Frank Árpád Darabont (born Ferenc Árpád Darabont, January 28, 1959) is an American screenwriter, director, and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. In his early career, he was primarily a scre ...

Dennis Etchison Dennis William Etchison (March 30, 1943 – May 29, 2019) was an American writer and editor of fantasy and horror fiction.

Preston Fassel Preston Fassel (born September 11, 1985) is an American author, journalist, film critic, and producer primarily known for his work in the horror, science fiction, and crime genres. His work has appeared in ''Fangoria, Rue Morgue, Screem'' magaz ...

Gillian Flynn Gillian Schieber Flynn (; born February 24, 1971) is an American author, screenwriter, and producer, best known for her Thriller (genre), thriller and Mystery fiction, mystery novels ''Sharp Objects'' (2006), ''Dark Places (Flynn novel), Dark Plac ...

* Brian Freeman *

Mick Garris Mick Garris (born December 4, 1951) is an American filmmaker, screenwriter and novelist born in Santa Monica, California. He is best known for his work in the horror film genre, as well as making Stephen King adaptations. Early life Garris was b ...

Ray Garton Ray Garton Jr. (December 2, 1962April 21, 2024) was an American author of horror fiction for adults and young adults. He wrote at least 68 books; the best-known, ''Live Girls'', was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award. Personal life Ray Garton ...

Christopher Golden Christopher Golden (born July 15, 1967) is an American writer. Early life Golden was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. He graduated from Tufts University. Career As well as novels, Golden has written com ...

* J. F. Gonzalez * Ed Gorman *

Rick Hautala Rick Hautala (February 3, 1949 – March 21, 2013) was an American speculative fiction and horror writer. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1974, where he received a Master of Art in English Literature. Hautala arrived on the horror ...

Joe Hill (writer) Joseph Hillström King (born June 4, 1972), better known by the pen name Joe Hill, is an American writer. His work includes the novels '' Heart-Shaped Box'' (2007), '' Horns'' (2010), '' NOS4A2'' (2013), '' The Fireman'' (2016) and '' King So ...

Brian Hodge Brian Hodge is a writer of horror & crime, as well as an avid connoisseur of music. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he is working on his latest novel. Brian Hodge's novels are often dark in nature, containing themes such as self-sacrifice ...

Brian Keene Brian Keene (born September 22, 1967) is an American author and podcaster, primarily known for his work in horror, dark fantasy, crime fiction, and comic books. He has won the 2014 World Horror Grandmaster Award and two Bram Stoker Awards. In ad ...

Ronald Kelly Ronald Kelly (born November 20, 1959) is best known as a speculative fiction and "southern-fried" horror writer. His tales are usually set in the Southern United States and feature language and actions that are associated with those regions ...

Michael Koryta Michael Koryta (pronounced ) (born September 20, 1982) is an American author of contemporary crime and supernatural fiction. His novels have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list, ''The New York Times'' Best Seller list, and have won o ...

* Joe R. Lansdale *

Tim Lebbon Tim Lebbon (born 28 July 1969, London) is a British horror and dark fantasy writer. Life Lebbon was born in London. He lived in Devon until he was eight and then in Newport until the age of 26. He now lives in Goytre, Monmouthshire with his ...

* Edward Lee *

Bentley Little Bentley Little (born 1960 in Mesa, Arizona) is an American author of horror fiction. Publishing an average of a novel a year since 1990, Little avoids publicity and rarely does promotional work or interviews for his writing. Early life Little is ...

* John R. Little *

Graham Masterton Graham Masterton (born 16 January 1946, in Edinburgh) is a British author known primarily for horror fiction. Originally editor of ''Mayfair'' and the British edition of '' Penthouse'', his debut novel, ''The Manitou'', was published in 1976. T ...

Richard Matheson Richard Burton Matheson (February 20, 1926 – June 23, 2013) was an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is best known as the author of '' I Am Legend'', a 1954 science ficti ...

* Brett McBean *

Robert McCammon Robert Rick McCammon (born July 17, 1952) is an American novelist from Birmingham, Alabama. One of the influential names in the late 1970s–early 1990s American horror literature boom, by 1991 McCammon had three ''New York Times'' bestsellers (' ...

William F. Nolan William Francis Nolan (March 6, 1928 – July 15, 2021) was an American author who was active in the science fiction, fantasy, horror, and crime fiction genres.Jason V. Brock, "Finding Sanctuary: Running from the Zone to Logan" in Brock, ''Diso ...

James A. Moore James Arthur Moore (September 3, 1965 – March 27, 2024) was an American horror novelist and short story writer, and role-playing game author. Biography James Arthur Moore was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 3, 1965. Moore was married. ...

John Pelan John C. Pelan (July 19, 1957 – April 12, 2021) was an American author, editor and publisher in the small press science-fiction, weird and horror fiction genres. He first founded Axolotl Press in 1986 and published several volumes by authors su ...

Douglas Preston Douglas Jerome Preston (born May 31, 1956) is an American journalist and author. Although he is best known for his thrillers in collaboration with Lincoln Child (including the '' Agent Pendergast'' series and ''Gideon Crew'' series), he has als ...

Bill Pronzini Bill Pronzini (born April 13, 1943) is an American writer of detective fiction. He is also an active anthologist, having compiled more than 100 collections, most of which focus on mystery, western, and science fiction short stories. Pronzini is ...

Anne Rice Anne Rice (born Howard Allen Frances O'Brien; October 4, 1941 – December 11, 2021) was an American author of Gothic fiction, erotic literature, and Bible fiction. She is best known for writing ''The Vampire Chronicles''. She later adapted t ...

*Michael Slade *

Peter Straub Peter Francis Straub (; March 2, 1943 – September 4, 2022) was an American novelist and poet. He had success with several horror and supernatural fiction novels, among them ''Julia'' (1975), ''Ghost Story'' (1979) and ''The Talisman'' (198 ...

Thomas Tessier Thomas Tessier (born May 10, 1947) is an American writer of horror novels and short stories. He has also written poetry and drama. Overview Tessier was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, attended University College Dublin and lived in London i ...

*Bill Walker * F. Paul Wilson *

T. M. Wright Terrance Michael "T. M." Wright (September 9, 1947 – October 31, 2015) was an American author best known as a writer of horror fiction, speculative fiction, and poetry. He wrote more than 25 novels as well as novellas and short stories, ove ...

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.cemeterydance.com Small press publishing companies Horror book publishing companies Publishing companies established in 1988