Del Howison

Del Howison is an award-winning editor, journalist, fiction author and actor. He has been nominated for the Bram Stoker Award four times (and won it once), for the Black Quill Award twice, for the Shirley Jackson Award and for the Rondo Hatton Award.

Along with his wife Sue, he founded and has operated Dark Delicacies (America’s Home of Horror) in Burbank for 30 years.

He has co-edited five books including all three of the Dark Delicacies anthologies, The Book of Lists Horror, and Midian Unmade. His nonfiction includes When Werewolves Attack from Jabberwocky. He also co-wrote (under the pseudonym of D. H. Atrial) Vampires Don’t Sleep Alone with Elizabeth Barrial. His film acting appearences include Dahmer Vs Gacy, The Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula, Blood Scarab, and The Crystal Lake Massacres Revisted.

Find him on his website, or follow him on Twitter @DarkDel.

Bibliography

  • Bram Stoker Award Winner

    The Dark Delicacies Series
    Dark Delicacies
    Del Howison
  • The Dark Delicacies Series
    Dark Delicacies II: Fear
    Del Howison
  • The Dark Delicacies Series
    Dark Delicacies III: Haunted
    Del Howison
  • Standalone
    The Survival of Margaret Thomas
    Del Howison
  • Standalone
    When Werewolves Attack: A Guide to Dispatching Ravenous Flesh-Ripping Beasts
    Del Howison
  • Standalone
    Vampires Don’t Sleep Alone: Your Guide to Meeting, Dating, and Seducing a Vampire
    Del Howison
  • Anthologies
    Midian Unmade: Tales of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed
    Del Howison
     

Reviews

The Dark Delicacies Series

Dark Delicacies
“A new anthology that can be described only as horrifying […] Vividly conveyed narratives of terror, bloodletting and grisly death. Veteran fans […] should find this collection sufficiently repulsive, spooky and chilly.”

Los Angeles Times

“This anthology […] is an all-star concert whose performers work haunting riffs on gutbucket themes […] A formidible lineup of horror’s top creative talents.”

Publishers Weekly

“Indispensable for both horror fans and, of course, Dark Delicacies’ patrons.”

Booklist

“…The 19 original stories commissioned especially for this collection revel in the macabre. Libraries with a strong horror following should add this dark gem to their collection.”

Library Journal

“I was quite excited by DARK DELICACIES […] There are some nice stories here.”

Locus

“Fun […] the kind of anthology I like best. Dark Delicacies is a fine sampling.”

Fangoria

“The editors have assembled a formidable group of writers […] It’s obvious one and all of them are having fun and I strongly suspect that you will too.”

Realms of Fantasy

“A wickedly crafted collection of terror. A worthy addition to your bookself.”

From the Tomb #21

“Tore through most of it one sitting and highly recommend it.”

Fort Worth Weekly

Dark Delicacies II: Fear
“Horror tales to suit virtually every taste make this follow-up to the Stoker-winning Dark Delicacies, a fulfilling feast of fear […] The result is a refreshingly varied anthology of above-average quality […] The volume includes an eclectic mix of older and younger talents that ensures broad-based appeal to horror readers.”

Publishers Weekly

“Showcases another stellar cast of genre specialists. These 19 unnerving and satirically macabre stories seal Dark Delicacies’ good repute as sponsor of one of the best new horror anthology series.”

Booklist

“Excellent. All of the stories are wisely chosen and deserve attention and comment. Recommended for all public libraries.”

Library Journal

“A delicious assortment of dishes to sink one’s teeth into. Like the first Dark Delicacies collection, this is a solid sampling of the kind of writing and love of horror that has made the Dark Delicacies store a unique and well-loved one among genre aficionados.”

Fangoria

“Here’s hoping this extremely welcome sequel sets a trend and results in a third installment.”

Rue Morgue

“DARK DELICACIES II does dispense a good meal to the hungry crowd of horror fans.”

The Agony Column

“Darkly engrossing and full of chills, a solid, thrilling read for those looking for a diverse selection of horror short stories.”

28 Days Later

Dark Delicacies III: Haunted
“Another diverse and talented group of writers and there isn’t a bad tale in the bunch. In fact this might be the best one yet.”

Famous Monsters of Filmland

“With any Dark Delicacies book you know you are getting the cream of the crop in regards to authors, and HAUNTED is no different. All of the stories contained within the 300+ pages will knock your socks off.”

Fatally Yours

“The third volume in the critically acclaimed series once again gathers the best and the scariest to share their new tales of horror.”

The Book Zombie

“Enough variety that everyone should be able to find something enjoyable within its pages. The good stories are really good, and as such I recommend the book to everyone.”

Horror Drive-In

“Now three terror-filled titles strong, the DD franchise has become a reliable brand in modern fright fiction, featuring mostly big names.”

Bookgasm

“Goes a long way in proving that short story collections can be just as well-crafted as their longer format companions, and shows that the short story is alive, kicking and able to scare the pants off you.”

Green Man Review

Standalone

The Survival of Margaret Thomas
"After my first reading, I knew then that I'd want to explore The Survival of Margaret Thomas at a more leisurely pace. I didn't, however, expect to feel the desire to take up the book again so quickly, having finished it only weeks ago...it's a testament to how deeply invested I am in the world Del Howison has so lovingly created and etched each wounded soul."

Clive Barker, bestselling author of Hellraiser

“THE SURVIVAL OF MARGARET THOMAS is proof that there are still compelling Western stories to be told.”

The Los Angeles Public Library

“The story of how she accomplishes the journey will be enjoyable for those who have a strong stomach for the gory parts.”

Historical Novel Society

“[T]his leads to a brutal journey, rife with violence. The book not so much a western as a horror novel in a western setting, is filled with plenty of graphic violence.”

Western Writers Roundup

"Howison has stepped out of the looming shadow of the horror genre and into the blistering sun of the Wild West, to give readers a journey fraught with danger and hardship, sprinkled with moments of tenderness, a journey in which poor Margaret Thomas will learn her own strength, and just how far she’ll go to seek justice and protect those she loves."

The Horror Zine

"When Margaret and friends have to ride out for a showdown to get justice, the book delivers everything we want from the genre with human flair."

The Hard Word

"Fantastic. Absolutely vicious by the end. I loved it."

Neil Marshall, director of "The Descent," "Dog Soldiers," and "Game of Thrones"

“A truly remarkable novel. While set in the 19th century West, it is far greater than a ‘western’; it is an American novel–brutal, violent, gripping, evocative, and redemptive. The heroine is a beautifully realized, complex character, and her first-person telling of the story echoes with the rhythms and elocution of 19th century American speech. This is one hell of a ride.”

Douglass Preston, New York Times bestselling author of COLD VENGEANCE and THE MONSTER OF FLORENCE

“The stunning Western debut of an accomplished, veteran writer. With the authority of Loren D. Estleman and the heart of Larry McMurtry, Howison breathes new life into a beloved genre. I was in the right place at the right time when given the chance to read THE SURVIVAL OF MARGARET THOMAS ahead of publication. Saddle up again, Del Howison. I will ride anywhere with you.

Nancy Holder, multiple award-winner and author of the New York Times bestselling series the Wicked Saga

“Del Howison knows his westerns. Smart and swift, this is no cheap powder burner, but is instead a mesmerizing novel of the West. Strong characters, beautiful storytelling narrative, and enough heart for the entire wild west. You need this."

Joe R. Landsale, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of THE BOTTOMS and JACKRABBIT SMILE

“An old west road trip that becomes a runaway steam train, THE SURVIVAL OF MARGARET THOMAS is simply fantastic. Part western epic, part epic drama, it is a powerhouse of emotion set against the backdrop of frontier America. THE SURVIVAL OF MARGARET THOMAS got its teeth in my boots and never let go.”

Peter Clines, bestselling author of PARADOX BOUND and DEAD MOON

“I’ll put this in terms that western movie fans will understand: Del Howison’s novel is Westward the Women meets China 9, Liberty 37 meets Bone Tomahawk – elevated by the author’s dry wit, attention to historical detail and colloquialisms, and matter-of-fact approach to human savagery.”

Joseph Maddrey, author and screenwriter of "Nightmares in Red, White, and Blue: The Evolution of the American Horror Film"

“Memories are what we take with us, and what we leave behind. As Americans, we all carry, like memories we can’t shake off, rich veins of the frontier myths that gave birth to our literature. Del Howison mines these wonderfully.”

James Sallis, author of Drive

“Absolutely amazing page turner.”

John Debney, Oscar-nominated composer for The Passion of the Christ

“This delivers on the promise of the title — this gritty novel is about a woman surviving, getting past a defining tragedy, and forming a new life, all in the shadow of a quest for justice.”

Derek McCaw, author of I Was Flesh Gordon

“I love this beautiful and empowering story. A fabulous read from start to finish.”

Amanda Wyss, Actress Silverado & Badland

Vampires Don’t Sleep Alone: Your Guide to Meeting, Dating, and Seducing a Vampire
“[VAMPIRES DON’T SLEEP ALONE] is witty and fun, yet serious in a way that makes you consider vampires a little differently than you did before.”

Sequential Tart

Anthologies

Midian Unmade: Tales of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed
“The juxtapositions of monstrous humans and humanized monsters will register with fans of thought-provoking horror.”

Publishers Weekly

“[MIDIAN UNMADE] is so wonderfully and captivatingly written […] The stories contained therein are so intoxicating, so lovingly written, and so all-encompassing that they leave you aching for more when you reach the final page.”

Horror Talk

“With so much imagination and love for the mythology on display, MIDIAN UNMADE is recommended reading for those who love creatures of the night. It’s also proof that every monster has its day.”

Rue Morgue Magazine

“With its diverse collection of monsters and their equally diverse outlook on their new world after the fall of their sanctuary at Midian, MIDIAN UNMADE is a wonderful companion piece to Cabal and Nightbreed, and a must-read for any fan of either. The stories are well-placed within the anthology (they definitely could not have made a better choice for the closing story) and all of them offer a unique take on the mysterious world of the Nightbreed, and the heartbreak and despair that can be felt by anyone, including monsters.”

Wicked Horror

"The anthology’s stories are harmonious with the theme, [which] permits [the writers] to exhibit their uniqueness of style and expression. This admirable collection is indeed a balance of unity and individuality."

Diabolique Magazine

"The editors have done a thoughtful job ordering the tales to create a directional thread to the collection. It was this added level of cohesion that, for me, makes this collection of fantasy/horror/sci-fi short stories superior to many of the others I have read…The writers of the tales are, on the whole, quite talented."

Pop Mythology

"Never less than entertaining, MIDIAN UNMADE is definitely an anthology that fans of Barker and the Nightbreed will enjoy. Well worth reading."

Sci-Fi Bulletin

Awards & Accolades

The Dark Delicacies Series

Dark Delicacies
USA

Winner Bram Stoker Award: “Best Anthology”

Dark Delicacies II: Fear
USA

Bram Stoker Award Finalist: “Best Anthology”

USA

Shirley Jackson Award Finalist: “Best Anthology”

Dark Delicacies III: Haunted
USA

Black Quill Award Nominee: “Best Anthology”

Anthologies

Midian Unmade: Tales of Clive Barker’s Nightbreed