Crystal Lake’s Torrid Waters imprint has signed author Amanda M. Blake.
A horror and dark fantasy writer, Amanda M. Blake has produced five books in the fairy tale mash-up Thorns series, five standalone novels, and a dark poetry collection. Dozens of her short stories as well as a handful of poetry have been featured in anthologies, magazines, and contests. Her most recent release was extreme horror novel Question Not My Salt through Crystal Lake’s Torrid Waters imprint.
Her next Torrid Waters novel, In the Dollhouse We All Wait, is coming out 2026. If Question Not My Salt is a fast-paced gross gateway into extreme horror, In the Dollhouse takes things all the way.
In it, Samantha Frain signs on to become a well-paid live-in nanny for Annie, who turns out not to be a child. Before Sam can change her mind or adjust her expectations, Annie’s father leaves them alone in the giant family mansion, where Annie slowly introduces Sam to her extensive doll collection, with the usual Barbies, Littlest Pet Shop, Monster High, stuffed animals, etc.
Then Annie shows Sam the Repair Room for broken dolls that aren’t dolls at all, revealing the other side of the sweet little grown-up girl with the curl on her forehead and the rest of her collection.
Criminals Minds meets The Island of Dr. Moreau, In the Dollhouse We All Wait promises to disturb at every turn.
Blake also has a supernatural novella, May Cooler Heads Prevail, and a seasonal horror poetry collection, A Nightmare for All Seasons, coming out later this year through self-publication, and her dark alt-history plague novel Masque will be released through Quill & Crow Publishing House in Summer 2027.