Exploring Dark Short Fiction #7: A Primer to Gemma Files

Named "One of the genre's most original and innovative voices" (L.A. Review of Books) and "An expert at terrifying prose" (LitReactor), Canadian author Gemma Files has been penning gritty and macabre fiction since 1993, earning industry awards and critical acclaim from sources such as National Public Radio, Publishers Weekly, and The National Post. Files imbues her cross-genre work with layers like dark stratum: heartbreak upon horror, built over the vignettes of life we may find ourselves in, but for one slight turn of reality.

Dark Moon Books and editor Eric J. Guignard bring you this introduction to her work, the seventh in a series of primers exploring modern masters of literary dark short fiction. Herein is a chance to discover-or learn more of-the evocative voice of Gemma Files, as beautifully illustrated by artist Michelle Prebich.

Included within these pages are:

- Six short stories, one written exclusively for this book

- Author interview

- Biography and bibliography

- Academic commentary by Michael Arnzen, PhD (former humanities chair and professor of the year, Seton Hill University)

- ... and more!

Enter this doorway to the vast and fantastic: Get to know Gemma Files.

Table of Contents includes:

- Introduction by Eric J. Guignard

- About Gemma Files (A Biography)

- In The Poor Girl Taken by Surprise

- In The Poor Girl Taken by Surprise: A Commentary

- Slick Black Bones and Soft Black Stars

- Slick Black Bones and Soft Black Stars: A Commentary

- Venio

- Venio: A Commentary

- Sown From Salt

- Sown From Salt: A Commentary

- Guising

- Guising: A Commentary

- Yol

- Yol: A Commentary

- Why Gemma Files Matters by Michael Arnzen, PhD

- In Conversation with Gemma Files

- Stories in Pieces: Found Footage Storytelling, or Writing Epistolary Narratives for the 21st Century: An Essay by Gemma Files

- A Bibliography of English Language Fiction for Gemma Files

ERIC J. GUIGNARD is a writer, editor, and anthologist of dark and speculative fiction, operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles, where he also runs the small press, Dark Moon Books. He's twice won the Bram Stoker Award, won the Shirley Jackson Award, and been a finalist for the World Fantasy Award and International Thriller Writers Award. He has over 150 stories appearing in publications around the world. As editor, Eric's published multiple fiction anthologies, including PROFESSOR CHARLATAN BARDOT'S TRAVEL ANTHOLOGY TO THE MOST (FICTIONAL) HAUNTED BUILDINGS IN THE WEIRD, WILD WORLD and A WORLD OF HORROR, each a showcase of international horror short fiction. His latest books are LAST CASE AT A BAGGAGE AUCTION; DOORWAYS TO THE DEADEYE; and short story collections THAT WHICH GROWS WILD and A GRAVESIDE GALLERY (both through Cemetery Dance). Outside the glamorous and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric's a technical writer and college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children, dogs, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles. Visit Eric at: www.ericjguignard.com; Bluesky or X (Twitter): @ericjguignard; or elsewhere via linktr.ee/eric_j._guignard.