Latest
News update
NEVER WAKE anthology now on Audio!
It's finally here! Now available on audiobook: The NEVER WAKE anthology, edited by Kenneth W. Cain and Tim Meyer. Narrated by Spencer Dillehay and published by Crystal Lake Audio (run by the amazing Naching T. Kassa). Have you ever wondered where we go when we dream? Why not let this breath-taking dream horror anthology guide you to worlds beyond the norm. Featuring an introduction from Sadie...
Shadows & Ink: Mastering the Art of Horror Writing and Publishing
It’s time to unveil our next big project (probably Crystal Lake's biggest in some time), launching January 10th. This one’s for all the Horror, Thriller, Mystery, Weird, Suspense, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Speculative, Dark & Supernatural Fiction authors out there. We call it Shadows & Ink: Mastering the Art of Horror Writing and Publishing. Presented by Crystal Lake and passionately spearheaded...
INDIE AUTHOR BRAWL WIN!
Congrats to Crystal Lake author Nick Roberts on winning the extremely competitive Books of Horror INDIE AUTHOR BRAWL with his THE EXORCIST'S HOUSE novel. If you still haven't read it, then it's definitely time to start feeling left out. And be sure to check out the other books. Some of these titles are being relaunched through Crystal Lake next year. Some of these authors will have new books...
Shallow Waters theme for October!
Keely Mahaffey, the winner of last month’s contest, has agreed to host this month’s contest. Here’s her theme:“The theme I'm going with this month is ‘Trick or Treat.’ We've all heard stories or even experienced the risks taken on Halloween night such as cemetery visits, Samhain seances, or break-ins to haunted houses. These stories should take place on Halloween night and involve some...
New Anthology Series Announcement!
Before diving into the theme for the upcoming Shallow Waters flash contest (will share in an hour or so), I am thrilled to unveil a riveting project for a Halloween 2024 launch. Historically, the winning tale from Crystal Lake’s Shallow Waters contests found their homes within a Shallow Waters eBook, culminating in our grand paperback release last week. However, that series has beautifully...
Since its founding in 2012, Crystal Lake’s authors, books, artists, and editors have walked away with 58 prestigious awards and nominations from institutions like The Bram Stoker Awards (including the HWA’s Specialty Press award), Shirley Jackson Awards, This Is Horror, and Imadjinn Awards. That’s quality guaranteed.
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“It’s always a pleasure working with Crystal Lake, an independent press whose professionalism mirrors the high quality of their work. If you’re looking for an independent press at the top of their game, then congratulations you’ve just found them—long live Crystal Lake.”
Michael David Wilson, This Is Horror
“Crystal Lake are good people doing fine work. Always worth watching for their latest.”
Jack Ketchum, The Girl Next Door and Off-Season
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“One look at Crystal Lake’s track record (as well as the stellar titles in their forthcoming lineup) and you know they’re the real deal. CLP are here to stay and for the ultimate horror fan, that’s a reason to rejoice!”
Kealan Patrick Burke, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of The Turtle Boy, Kin, and Sour Candy
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“Crystal Lake have been a real pleasure to work with – professional, prompt, and with a true passion for the genre.”
Tim Lebbon, The Silence and The Rage War
About
Crystal Lake Entertainment
Since its founding in August 2012, Crystal Lake Publishing has quickly become one of the world’s leading publishers of Dark Fiction and Horror books. In 2023, Crystal Lake Publishing formed a part of Crystal Lake Entertainment, joining several other divisions, including Torrid Waters, Crystal Lake Comics, and many more.
While we strive to present only the highest quality fiction and entertainment, we also endeavour to support authors along their writing journey. We offer our time and experience in non-fiction projects, as well as author mentoring and services, at competitive prices.
With several Bram Stoker Award wins and many other wins and nominations (including the HWA’s Specialty Press Award), Crystal Lake puts integrity, honor, and respect at the forefront of our publishing operations.
We strive for each book and outreach program we spearhead to not only entertain and touch or comment on issues that affect our readers, but also to strengthen and support the Dark Fiction field and its authors.
Not only do we find and publish authors we believe are destined for greatness, but we strive to work with men and women who endeavour to be decent human beings who care more for others than themselves, while still being hard-working, driven, and passionate artists and storytellers.
Crystal Lake is and will always be a beacon of what passion and dedication, combined with overwhelming teamwork and respect, can accomplish. We endeavour to know each and every one of our readers, while building personal relationships with our authors, reviewers, bloggers, podcasters, bookstores, and libraries.
We will be as trustworthy, forthright, and transparent as any business can be, while also keeping most of the headaches away from our authors, since it’s our job to solve the problems so they can stay in a creative mind. Which of course also means paying our authors.
We do not just publish books, we present to you worlds within your world, doors within your mind, from talented authors who sacrifice so much for a moment of your time.
There are some amazing small presses out there, and through collaboration and open forums we will continue to support other presses in the goal of helping authors and showing the world what quality small presses are capable of accomplishing. No one wins when a small press goes down, so we will always be there to support hardworking, legitimate presses and their authors. We don’t see Crystal Lake as the best press out there, but we will always strive to be the best, strive to be the most interactive and grateful, and even blessed press around. No matter what happens over time, we will also take our mission very seriously while appreciating where we are and enjoying the journey.
What do we offer our authors that they can’t do for themselves through self-publishing?
We are big supporters of self-publishing (especially hybrid publishing), if done with care, patience, and planning. However, not every author has the time or inclination to do market research, advertise, and set up book launch strategies. Although a lot of authors are successful in doing it all, strong small presses will always be there for the authors who just want to do what they do best: write.
What we offer is experience, industry knowledge, contacts and trust built up over years. And due to our strong brand and trusting fanbase, every Crystal Lake book comes with weight of respect. In time our fans begin to trust our judgment and will try a new author purely based on our support of said author.
To date we’ve published around 100 books, and with each launch we strive to fine-tune our approach, learn from our mistakes, and increase our reach. We continue to assure our authors that we’re here for them and that we’ll carry the weight of the launch and deal with third parties while they focus on their strengths—be it writing, interviews, blogs, signings, etc.
We also offer several mentoring packages to authors that include knowledge and skills they can use in both traditional and self-publishing endeavours.
We look forward to launching many new careers.
This is what we believe in. What we stand for. This will be our legacy.
Welcome to Crystal Lake Entertainment.
Who we are
JOE MYNHARDT
Founder & CEO
Joe Mynhardt is a Bram Stoker Award-winning South African publisher, editor, and mentor. Joe founded Crystal Lake in August of 2012, which quickly grew into Crystal Lake Entertainment. Joe is now the CEO.
Jaco Nieuwoudt
Managing Director and Publisher
Jaco lives a quiet life in Bloemfontein, South Africa with his two bunnies. Jaco is an experienced retail regional manager and tech guru who loves books, television series, and people with a dark sense of humor.
NACHING T. KASSA
Talent Relations
Naching T. Kassa is a wife, mother, and writer. She is Head of Talent Relations at Crystal Lake Publishing and a proud member of the Horror Writers Association, Mystery Writers of America, The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association and several Sherlock Holmes scions.
James Aquilone
Crystal Lake Comics
James Aquilone is the owner of Monstrous Books, writer of the Dead Jack, Zombie Detective series, and editor of the anthologies Classic Monsters Unleashed, Shakespeare Unleashed, and the 50th anniversary Kolchak: The Night Stalker graphic novel. He’s won the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel and two Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards.
Amanda Worthington
Outreach Manager
Amanda Worthington is an Elgin-nominated horror writer and dark poet based in Kansas City, Missouri. She founded the Missouri/Kansas chapter of the HWA and currently serves as Chair. She also writes the weekly column Liminal Waystation for Space and Time.
Anita Stewart
Media Manager
Hailing from Nova Scotia, Canada, A.F. Stewart is an author of all things dark and stabby, trailing a long list of novels, novellas, and story collections, as well as poetry. In addition, she is an interviewer, having hosted the shows Between the Pages Book Chat and Words That Kill.
Kenneth W. Cain
Torrid Waters imprint / Publisher
An author of horror/dark fiction and freelance editor, Kenneth W. Cain is a member of the HWA and the SFWA. He has had over one hundred short stories published, as well as thirteen novels/novellas, and he has edited ten anthologies. You can find his full publishing history at kennethwcain.com.
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