Pre-Approved for Haunting

Patrick Barb is an author of weird, dark, and horrifying tales. His short fiction has appeared in a number of recognized horror and speculative fiction magazines and anthologies. His debut dark urban fantasy novella, Gargantuana's Ghost, was a part of Grey Matter Press’s Emergent Expressions line. Patrick is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association and a Full Member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. Originally from the Southern United States, he’s currently living in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with his wife, two sons, and a large dog who thinks she’s actually a lapdog.

"Wry, edgy, and satisfyingly dark. Pre-Approved for Haunting deploys modes of traditional horror to hit a very contemporary nerve." —Laird Barron, author of Worse Angels"With a distinctive voice and subtle dark humor, Patrick Barb infuses classic horror scenarios with a touch of the surreal. This book feels mythic and yet very much of-the-moment." —Christi Nogle, author of The Best of Our Past, the Worst of Our Future"Barb's debut collection not only seems to touch on every type of horror: his stories cross-pollinate different horror subgenres to create a number of entirely new—and surprising, and satisfying—species.  An ambitious collection that both knows the rules, and knows exactly when to break them.”  —Brian Evenson, author of The Glassy, Burning Floor of Hell"Meta creepiness that celebrates the thrill of horror fiction, short sci-fi shocks, hauntings that bite deeper because they are so heartfelt: Patrick Barb shows an impressive range in this debut collection. I’m reminded of hands with too many fingers. Unnerving, yes, but each of those fingers has its own unique grasp of storytelling, and I had great fun reading these stories and their voices. A writer worth keeping a close eye on — for both your safety and your entertainment." —Michael Wehunt, author of Greener Pastures and The Inconsolables“Pre-Approved for Haunting and Other Stories is filled with the unique, inventive, and unexpected, along with clever reveals. Patrick Barb is a natural at maneuvering between different voices and creating slow burn dread. A careful guide for readers down the tunnel of weird and strange, Barb’s stories guarantee you will not come out of the other side unchanged.” —Ai Jiang, Nebula and Locus Award finalist and author of Linghun