Secrets of the Weird - Softcover

Stroup, Chad

4.23

30 ratings by Goodreads

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1940658802 ISBN 13: 9781940658803

Publisher: Grey Matter Press, 2017

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"Trixie loathed her penis." That shocking revelation begins the emotional and personally horrifying quest for self-realization in a truly messed up world.Secrets of the Weird has been likened to the David Lynch's groundbreaking series Twin Peaks, but only if horror master Clive Barker and dark fantasist Neil Gaiman had teamed up to create that iconic 90s cultural masterpiece.It's here, within the dark tapestry of Sweetville, where a new designer drug offers the enticing yet dangerous promise of salvation through physical transformation as it makes the rounds of the community of club kids, neo-Nazis, drag queens, prostitutes and punks who populate the city's sin-drenched streets. Its chewable hearts and candied lips threaten to change the lives of those in the city's underground in terrible ways. And on her seemingly herculean struggle to once and for all become the woman she was born to be, Trixie is the ideal candidate to accept its treacherous bargain.With Sweet Candy poised to ignite the tenuous powder keg that is life, love and lust in Sweetville, could the arrival of the mysterious back-alley surgeon Julius Kast and his cult of peculiar specters be the final spark that lights the fuse?Take an unforgettable journey with Trixie and a cast of outsiders in Secrets of the Weird, a novel that's equal parts irreverent social commentary, dark fantasy and horrifying reality for a counterculture society where frequently dangerous, often deviant and always dark secrets will be revealed.Proudly presented by Grey Matter Press, the multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated independent publisher.Grey Matter Press: Where Dark Thoughts Thrive

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About the Author:

Chad Stroup is a writer and editor from San Diego, California. His dark short stories and poetry have been featured in various publications. Secrets of the Weird is his first novel.Stroup received his MFA in Fiction from San Diego State University. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the San Diego Horror Professionals, and he dearly misses playing music.

Review:

"Insane in the most amazingly sublime hallucinogenic way. Every word, every setting, every character is a garishly intelligent choice. This is the most bizarre but incredible mash up of New Jack City, Blade Runner and Game of Thrones. In an era of non-binary gender and fluid sexuality this is a relevant and timely tale." -- Tracy Lee Palmer, Signal Horizon

"I found Secrets of the Weird to be an engaging and fascinating read. It is a highly unusual, admirably creative foray into a deeply, deeply disturbing world of fiction which nonetheless resonates with modern reality." -- Hal Bodner, author of The Trouble with Hairy and Bite Club!

"Secrets of the Weird is a harrowing walk through a landscape populated by modern horrors and lit only by failing neon, where the only saving graces are whatever bravery we can summon up from within and whatever kindness we can muster toward our fellow outcasts, and Chad Stroup is the best possible guide a reader could ask for." -- Jeremy P. Bushnell, author of The Insides and The Weirdness

"Stroup has created a city full of adventure, danger and eroticism populated with a range of characters that simply jumped off the page, and with his lead Trixie, he has created a strong female character that I absolutely want to read more about. There are so many interesting characters populating this city that it'll be a crime if Stroup doesn't bring us back." -- Gavin Kendall, Kendall Reviews

"Talent should never be overlooked, and that's exactly what author Chad Stroup brings to the table with this stunning, dynamic, and engrossing debut. This is the right book at the right time considering the current social and political climate. May it serve to broaden some minds." W.J. Renehan, Dark Hall Press

"[Secrets of the Weird] is smart, frightening, and evocative all at the same time" -- Justin Pearson, The Locust, Dead Cross, 31G Records

"Secrets of the Weird is a wildly imaginative novel that is a must-read for any dark fiction fan looking for something a little different. There is no denying Stroup is a talented new voice and his outstanding character development and willingness to experiment within the horror and fantasy genres have definitely made me a fan." Rich Duncan, The Horror Bookshelf

"...[A] skill akin to that of Stephen King....This is the right book at the right time considering the current social and political climate." -- W.J. Renehan, Dark Hall Press

"Brilliant! Wondrous! Fantastic! These are words that barely scratch the surface on how I fell about this book." -- Lyndon D. Johnson, Splatter Cafe

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