Matthew R. Davis

Matthew R. Davis

@mxrxdx.bsky.social

Shirley Jackson Award-nominated horror author. Obscure musician. Partner of Red Wallflower.

702 followers178 following34 posts

Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

You may enjoy ONE LAST LAUGH IN THE DARK now! That's right, it's here! My new novella, One Last Laugh in the Dark, is finally available! You can find purchase links on the BIBLIOGRAPHY page of this blog. And here is the full spread cover by Red Wallflower: I discuss much of the book's history in…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comYou may enjoy ONE LAST LAUGH IN THE DARK now!That's right, it's here! My new novella, One Last Laugh in the Dark, is finally available! You can find purchase links on the BIBLIOGRAPHY page of this blog. And here is the full spread cover by Red Wallflower: I discuss much of the book's history in the afterword, so what can I say here? Well, let's start with a list of trivial facts about the work, shall we?
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

That August Body Hello again! Here's all the hot, steaming tea that's fit to drink from MRDland. PUBLICATIONS: "Are You Gonna Be My Ghoul?" in Deadly Duos: Funfair Frights (Dreadstone Books), available here (digital only). This was conceived and partly written at the Royal Adelaide Show last year,…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comThat August BodyHello again! Here's all the hot, steaming tea that's fit to drink from MRDland. PUBLICATIONS: "Are You Gonna Be My Ghoul?" in Deadly Duos: Funfair Frights (Dreadstone Books), available here (digital only). This was conceived and partly written at the Royal Adelaide Show last year, and it's out in time for the Show this year! "Pluck a Silken String" in…
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

May We, June Too Welcome back! That last post got a lot more traction than is usual in these parts—thanks to everyone for checking it out, it was a real labour of love. I've added a couple of names since posting and I might keep doing so as I go. But now we're back to our irregularly scheduled…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comMay We, June TooWelcome back! That last post got a lot more traction than is usual in these parts—thanks to everyone for checking it out, it was a real labour of love. I've added a couple of names since posting and I might keep doing so as I go. But now we're back to our irregularly scheduled programming, so let's get into it!
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

5 things you will almost certainly find in my books: Compassion Intransigence Music references galore Redheads Horror!

Alan Baxter@alanbaxter.bsky.social

5 things you will probably find in my books: - supernatural shenanigans - weird people - cosmic horrors - emotional torment - diversity

Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

An A-Z of Women in Horror In honour of Women in Horror Month, here's an exhaustive (though still woefully incomplete) list of female creatives in the darkest of fields, along with works of theirs I recommend. I stretch the definition of horror a bit here and there, and whilst this is primarily…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comAn A-Z of Women in HorrorIn honour of Women in Horror Month, here's an exhaustive (though still woefully incomplete) list of female creatives in the darkest of fields, along with works of theirs I recommend. I stretch the definition of horror a bit here and there, and whilst this is primarily about authors, I've also included some musicians, actors, directors, producers, critics, icons, and artists — and do keep in mind that there are so many more unsung women working behind the scenes in roles I haven't touched upon: agents, editors, make-up artists, camerawomen, production assistants, cover designers, FX creators, proofreaders, publishers, and a hundred more.

Matthew R. Davis reposted

Australian Book Lovers
@australianbooks.bsky.social

Replying to @australianbooks.bsky.social

Book spotlights this ep: 1. All we need by Magdalena McGuire – contemporary 2. Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe @mxrxdx.bsky.social – horror 3. Stormy Normy Goes Reining by Leisa Fail - middle grade 4. The Sky’s Edge by Clare Anne McGrory – thriller #ReadMoreAussieBooks #booksky #podcasts #Readers

Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

MY BOOKS IN 2026 and OTHER GUFF Happy Friday the 13th and Valentine's Day! (Yes, this was supposed to come out on one and then the other, but here we are now. Sheesh.) Okay, first of all let's catch up on the news. Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe has been shortlisted for Best Collection in the 2025…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comMY BOOKS IN 2026 and OTHER GUFFHappy Friday the 13th and Valentine's Day! (Yes, this was supposed to come out on one and then the other, but here we are now. Sheesh.) Okay, first of all let's catch up on the news. Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe has been shortlisted for Best Collection in the 2025 Aurealis Awards! As Meg would say: YEE HEE! Check out the full listings of finalists…
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

A reminder that my new horror collection SONGS OF SHADOW, WORDS OF WOE - featuring Shirley Jackson Award-nominated and Australasian Shadows Award-winning stories - is out and desperate for your attention now!

Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

Woe to you, oh earth and sea Yeah, I've been sitting on this one for a few weeks. It's so hard to stay motivated sometimes beneath the crushing weight of one's own failures and shortcomings—but you want to read about the fun stuff, right? Here goes! The Writing on the Wall: A Horror Tribute to…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comWoe to you, oh earth and seaYeah, I've been sitting on this one for a few weeks. It's so hard to stay motivated sometimes beneath the crushing weight of one's own failures and shortcomings—but you want to read about the fun stuff, right? Here goes! The Writing on the Wall: A Horror Tribute to Iron Maiden is out now from Wicked Oujia, featuring my tale "Flash of the Blade", and you can buy that…

Matthew R. Davis reposted

Specul8 Publishing
@specul8.bsky.social

Happy Halloween kids! It's your good ol' Uncle Henley Hackenslash, and we're just DYING to share our new cover for Knives, Nightmares & Neon: An 80s Slasher Anthology. Oh, but the fun and gruesome games don't stop there, we're also cooking something else up for y'all! www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kVw...

youtube.comKnives, Nightmares & Neon: An 80s Slasher Anthology Cover Reveal and Special AnnouncementYouTube video by Specul8 Publishing
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

Here's the cover for MIDNIGHT ECHO 20, from the Australasian Horror Writers Association, due out next week. Features my story "Coffee, Toast, Garden" and an image by my darling Red Wallflower, plus much dark Aussie goodness!

Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

SONGS OF SHADOW, WORDS OF WOE Well, I told you it was very imminent... Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe goes live today, September 19, and here we are on my 100th blog post, revealing the cover! Feast your eyes on this: Cover art by Don Noble You can get it direct from JournalStone here, and if you…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comSONGS OF SHADOW, WORDS OF WOEWell, I told you it was very imminent... Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe goes live today, September 19, and here we are on my 100th blog post, revealing the cover! Feast your eyes on this: Cover art by Don Noble You can get it direct from JournalStone here, and if you order the paperback, you'll get the ebook immediately to tide you over.
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

“Another Working Title.” After an extended gestation period, Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe is looking at a very imminent drop. I've been going over roughs by Don Noble based on an idea of mine and I've just approved the final cover and interior layout. It's taken a long path to publication, but I…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.com“Another Working Title.”After an extended gestation period, Songs of Shadow, Words of Woe is looking at a very imminent drop. I've been going over roughs by Don Noble based on an idea of mine and I've just approved the final cover and interior layout. It's taken a long path to publication, but I assure you it will be worth the wait! Another thirteen dark and wonderful short stories, blurbed by some of the best in the biz...

Matthew R. Davis reposted

Black Beacon Books
@blackbeaconbooks.bsky.social

Black Beacon Books is horrified to announce our table of contents for Samhain Screams, the anthology that will make Halloween 2025 the spookiest ever! Edited by Greg Chapman and Cameron Trost, and featuring cover art by the former, you'll be screaming all night long this samhain!

Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

The June Frost Wow, you're thinking. Back so fast, MRD? It's only been a month or so since your last post! Well, cool your jets, peeps. No need to be snarky about it. Or maybe I'm just way too sensitive lately... yeah, that's absolutely it. Sorry about that. Anyway, this post has been sitting in…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comThe June FrostWow, you're thinking. Back so fast, MRD? It's only been a month or so since your last post! Well, cool your jets, peeps. No need to be snarky about it. Or maybe I'm just way too sensitive lately... yeah, that's absolutely it. Sorry about that. Anyway, this post has been sitting in drafts during an unusually busy week, so let's get into the facts:
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

My book on The Cure is out now + exclusive content here! That's right! My first non-fiction book is finally out and you can grab your own copy this very minute! (It's available through Booktopia, Sanity, QBD, Abbey's, Rocking Horse Records, The Nile, WH Smith, Amazon, and many more places, though…

matthewrdavisfiction.wordpress.comMy book on The Cure is out now + exclusive content here!That's right! My first non-fiction book is finally out and you can grab your own copy this very minute! (It's available through Booktopia, Sanity, QBD, Abbey's, Rocking Horse Records, The Nile, WH Smith, Amazon, and many more places, though be careful... some outlets insist it's not available until July or August for some reason.) Keep reading for the story behind the book, plus a piece that didn't make it into the final version.

Matthew R. Davis reposted

sonicbondpub.bsky.social
@sonicbondpub.bsky.social

The Cure On Track has now officially been published in the UK! Buy from @burningshed or wherever you get your books #cureband #newwave #postpunk #gothrrock #robertsmith #songsofalostworld #80srock #threeimaginaryboys

Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

I'm thrilled to report that my novelette "Effigy in Flagrante" (from THE BLACK BEACON BOOK OF GHOSTS, published by Black Beacon Books, cover by my dearest Red Wallflower) has been shortlisted for the Paul Haines Award for Long Fiction in the 2024 Australasian Shadows Awards! Good luck, everybody!

australasianhorror.comAustralasian Shadows AwardsThe 2024 Australasian Shadows Awards shortlists have been announced! Congratulations to everyone who made the shortlists. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at Conflux 19, to be h…
Matthew R. Davis
@mxrxdx.bsky.social

First post, huh? Well, I'm here to spread my gospel, so here are the next three books: SONGS OF SHADOW, WORDS OF WOE (JournalStone, May) ON TRACK: THE CURE - EVERY SONG, EVERY ALBUM (Sonicbond Publishing, May) RIBSPREADER: THE NOVELISATION & THE SCREENPLAY (w/ Dick Dale, Paroxysm Press, TBC)

You are up to date.