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<h1>Official Newsletter No. 8<br>
Celebrating the Life and Works of Guy N Smith 1939-2020</h1>
<img src="https://blackhillbooks.co.uk/newsletter/guy.jpg"
alt="" moz-do-not-send="true">
<h1>Greetings Fans, Friends and Fiends!</h1>
<p>Welcome to another packed issue of the GNS newsletter!
Inside, you'll find highlights from the recent <i>GNS Fan
Convention 2024</i>, updates on new and upcoming
projects from Black Hill Books and GNS author-fans, plus
an introduction to our new <i>Patreon membership</i>,
created to help expand Guy N. Smith’s legacy to loyal fans
and new readers alike.</p>
<p>We've also got details on the Halloween release for the
latest book <i>Werewolf by Moonlight</i>, a Halloween <i>Sabat
Special</i> from the <i>Breakfast in the Ruins</i>
podcast, the current <i>Big Cats</i> series on <i>Occultaria
of Albion</i>, and plans for the <i>Great Scribbler</i>
podcast, hosted by Tara Paulsson and launching with Guy’s
fanzine Graveyard Rendezvous. Plus, get a sneak peek at a
new competition with the film and audio platform <i>Dread
Sanctum</i>, and, as always, a further look into Guy’s
teenage Mystery Man Diary. Dive in and enjoy!</p>
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<hr>
<h2>More Crabs Are Coming!</h2>
<img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CrabsLogo.png">
<p>You’ll remember that the last newsletter featured the
republication of Night of the Crabs, Killer Crabs and
Origin of the Crabs, and indeed these three books in Guy’s
Crabs series were launched in ebook and paperback formats
in time for the GNS fan con on September 1st (with an
audiobook of Night of the Crabs still in production, due
out imminently). There’s an intention to release the next
three (books 4-6) in these formats by Christmas/New Year,
possibly with some themed slipcases available, and perhaps
both boxset and hardback versions of all 6 books to come
out next year, the latter featuring some colourful Rick
Melton artwork. Watch this space!</p>
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<hr> <a
href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034NE89E?ingress=0&visitId=75897d31-88b0-4d50-a84b-7807e8a79e8e"><img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/guy.png"
class="float-imageL"></a>
<h2>Amazon Author Page</h2>
<p>It’s been nearly four years since we lost Guy and there
have been many changes and upheavals along the way, not
the least of which was making Black Hill Books into a
limited company, gaining access to BHB company accounts
and assets, and assigning the GNS book rights to Black
Hill Books Ltd.</p>
<p>One thing we hadn’t managed to do until the republication
of the first books was to regain – and update – the Amazon
Author Page, without which it would have been impossible
to obtain sales reports/stats and promote the books
effectively on Amazon. Well, now we have it! It took a few
weeks, corresponding with Amazon Author Central’s help
centre and sending them the relevant documents proving we
were his family and had the right to own the page, but now
it’s done, we are relieved and proud to show it to you:</p>
<h3> <a
href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B0034NE89E?ingress=0&visitId=75897d31-88b0-4d50-a84b-7807e8a79e8e">Guy
N Smith on Amazon</a> </h3>
<h3>If you use Amazon, please follow Guy’s page. He has 892
followers at the time of writing.<br>
Let’s see if we can get to 1000 by Christmas!</h3>
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<hr> <img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_9958-1.png"
class="float-imageR">
<h2>Guy N. Smith Patreon Membership</h2>
<p>In October, we set up a Patreon membership account to
allow fans who wish to support the ongoing GNS project to
donate on a monthly basis. By subscribing to the Patreon
membership you can help Black Hill Books deliver ongoing
GNS content to keep the great Scribbler’s legacy alive and
keep you entertained! To find out more, visit</p>
<h3><a href="https://www.patreon.com/greatscribbler">patreon.com/greatscribbler.</a></h3>
<p><i class="dim">We have opted to postpone a switch to
Apple subscription billing until November 2025, which
means new members can’t join via the app just now
(existing app members are unaffected) but you can join
via the website. It shouldn’t affect anyone negatively
but if you have any questions, do contact Patreon
directly as a first step.</i></p>
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<hr>
<h2>Werewolf By Moonlight</h2>
<img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/WerewolfByMoonlight.png">
<p>Exciting and slightly surprising news (even to us) is
that we have put out a new edition of Werewolf by
Moonlight (Guy’s first published novel, originally
released in September 1974) on <i>Amazon in ebook and
paperback</i> formats at lightning-speed, thanks to fast
work by foreword writer Mickey Lewis (see the previous
newsletter) and artist Mike McGee (see below). We are
super happy with it, especially as its release date just
about coincides with the <i>50-year anniversary</i> of
its first publication by NEL, and we now hope to wheel out
books 2 and 3 of the series equally quickly. Lewis’s
foreword, snappily entitled <i>‘Nice N’ Sleazy: lust and
lycanthropy on a farm boy’s wages’</i> is pure cheeky
joy from start to finish, and McGee’s artistry is… well,
judge for yourselves! We adore it.</p>
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<hr width="50%"> <img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MikeMcGee-1.png"
class="float-imageL">
<h3>Mike McGee</h3>
<p>Mike McGee is our artist of choice for the Werewolf
series cover art. Here’s a bit about him in his own words:</p>
<p>“I’m Mike, a pop culture illustrator whose work is
heavily influenced by the masters of the macabre Bernie
Wrightson and Kelley Jones. The majority of my work has
been poster-based but a few years ago I was approached by
a good friend of mine, Justin Park, who offered me the
chance to work on the cover for the next book in the Sabat
series. I obviously jumped at the chance! Since then I
have produced covers for From the Dark Hours, Satanic
Armageddon, The Casebook of Raymond Odell and Beheaded
which was co-written by Guy and Justin. Werewolf by
Moonlight is my latest cover for Guy’s books and I am
honoured once again to be a small part of an iconic series
from such a true master of his craft.” </p>
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<hr width="50%">
<h2>“Where do I buy?”, we hear you cry!</h2>
<p>Amazon UK links: </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://amzn.eu/d/aIDIobd">Paperback:
https://amzn.eu/d/aIDIobd</a></li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.eu/d/fk03UtU">Kindle:
https://amzn.eu/d/fk03UtU</a></li>
</ul>
<p></p>
<p>Amazon US links:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://a.co/d/gBOJfmb">Paperback:
https://a.co/d/gBOJfmb</a></li>
<li><a href="https://a.co/d/hr8tPQH">Kindle:
https://a.co/d/hr8tPQH</a></li>
</ul>
<p>There are Amazon links for DE, FR, ES, IT, NL, JP, BR,
CA, MX, AU and IN too, so if you can’t find it on your
country’s Amazon page, contact us. And if Amazon isn’t
your bag, we’ll be launching on Kobo, Barnes & Noble,
iBooks and selling direct digital books via the website,
too.</p>
<p>There’s also our <i>Official UK Seller Paul Evans</i>
for hardcopies and rare copies, on <a
href="www.abebooks.com/books-for-collectors-lancashire/742557/sf">Abe
Books website</a></p>
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<hr>
<h2>What a Wicked World Wide Web we Weave…</h2>
<i>A few words from Reverend Doom.</i>
<p>The shadows have shifted, and so too has our online
realm. I bid you, devoted disciples, to gaze upon the <a
href="https://guynsmith.com">Guy N. Smith</a> website,
now transformed into a sanctuary for the peculiar, the
curious, and the fanatical. Within its dark corridors, you
shall find: </p>
<ul>
<li>Unsettlingly fresh news from beyond the veil</li>
<li>Past editions of the revered newsletter, preserved
like relics in a tomb</li>
<li>The cryptic instalments of the *Mystery Man Diary*</li>
<li>A complete inventory of Guy N. Smith’s immortal works</li>
<li>A biography of the man himself, an homage to his
mortal coil</li>
</ul>
<p>Yet, beneath this, a darker engine roars—the <a
href="https://blackhillbooks.co.uk">Blackhill Books</a>
website, the commercial heart of our empire. This is the
vault of e-commerce, the guarded gate where coin changes
hands, and the faithful may acquire relics with utmost
security.</p>
<p><b>What awaits in the Shadows?</b> The online shop is in
its final rites. Soon, you shall be able to purchase:</p>
<ul>
<li>Forbidden digital tomes</li>
<li>Merchandise woven with the essence of the macabre</li>
<li>And for the brave few… mummified remains of eldritch
lore</li>
</ul>
<p>A secure payment system, woven through the dark
enchantments of the Stripe on line banking system, stands
ready to process your offerings. Past newsletter editions
are already available in ebook format. Yet we await the
final protective wards upon the policy documents before
unleashing the shop upon the world. Dare to reach out if
you wish to be among the first to test this sacred ground.</p>
<p><b>Into the Future…</b> A prophecy looms: <i>The Great
Scribbler</i> website shall rise, heralding <i>Great
Scribbler Podcast</i>, where the dark tales and arcane
voices of Tara Paulsson will echo through the void. </p>
<p>TLDR: We did a lot. We're going to do more. Cool
websites. Check 'em out.</p>
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<hr>
<h2>Buddy Plugs!</h2>
<p>Plugging our buddies… (Why, what did you think we
meant…?)</p>
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<h3>YouTube Interview – Blast from the Past</h3>
<p>We recently connected with writer Gary Dobbs, an author
contact of Guy’s, about his vintage interview with Guy for
Scary Motherfucker magazine. The interview is pure gold
and is available to listen to on The Tainted Tavern
YouTube channel. Here’s the link:</p>
<h3><a
href="https://youtu.be/OrRM-ibdvoQ?si=HRl9Ti3_B0-5bsiI">The
Tainted Tavern on YouTube</a></h3>
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<hr width="50%"> <a href="https://amzn.eu/d/023y6A8b"><img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/ChrisElphickBookCover-1.png"
class="float-imageR"></a>
<h2>Tripping the Light Zine-tastic</h2>
<p>After the roaring success of his first GNS zine, writer
and photographer Chris Elphick is planning another one
next year, featuring GNS-inspired fan fiction. Fans have
until March to submit to the zine a short story inspired
by one of Guy’s books or characters, to be published
exclusively in Elphick’s zine with Black Hill Books’
permission. For more details, contact Chris via his blog </p>
<h3><a href="https://www.pixie-led.co.uk/p/1.html">pixie-led.co.uk</a></h3>
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<hr width="50%">
<h2>Winter Tales ‘The Final’ by Joseph Freeman</h2>
<img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/JosephFreeman-1.png"
class="float-imageL">
<p>Author and photographer Joseph Freeman was a long-time
friend and fan of Guy and is putting out his last-ever
Winter Tales this December. The popular online horror
reading show boasts an impressive line up and features
title music by Guy’s daughter Tara Paulsson. The stories
are always of the highest quality and past shows can be
found on YouTube and via <a
href="www.josephfreeman.co.uk">his website</a>. Joseph
Freeman’s is a life lived amongst ghosts; both fictional
and otherwise. His ancestors had various castles and
mansions in Ireland – most of which were haunted and most
of which were sold off before he had a chance of
inheriting any. His own parents told him tales of
ancestral banshees. A childhood interest in the gruesome
and the ghoulish developed into a lifelong passion for
horror, and after having dozens of short stories published
in magazines and anthologies both in the UK and USA, his
first book, 'Love Stories of the Undead' was published to
great acclaim and popularity when he was still a teenager.
He has now published 17 books, including the collections
‘They Come At Dusk’ and ‘Elsewhere & Otherwise’, and
the novels ‘The Cold Heart of Summer’ and ‘Arcadia Lodge’.</p>
<p>Much of his work is based upon his own experiences of,
and research into, the supernatural. In his writing,
Freeman concentrates upon a vivid atmosphere, rising
tension and glimpses of visionary terrors. He is highly
praised for his use of subtlety, psychological techniques
and mood to create an unsettling atmosphere. In 2020,
Freeman created the ‘Midsummer Macabre’ and ‘Winter Tales’
series of events. At first held live, the COVID pandemic
forced a shift into the online format – but this meant
exposure to a much larger audience, and also the chance to
work with some of the greatest living names in horror
fiction. </p>
<p>All previous online shows can be found on his Youtube
channel. </p>
<ul>
<li><a href="www.josephfreeman.co.uk">Joseph Freeman's
personal web site.</a></li>
<li><a href="facebook.com/JosephFreemanAuthor">Joseph
Freeman's Facebook page.</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@josephfreemanauthor">Joseph
Freeman's Youtube channel.</a></li>
</ul>
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<hr width="50%">
<h2>Fiends with Benefits (well, blogs…)</h2>
<p>There are many excellent review/blog sites featuring
Guy’s work. Here are a few:</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://kendallreviews.com/">Gavin Kendall</a></li>
<li><a
href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013056722227">Paul Ebbs
on Facebook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.dlsreviews.com/guy-n-smith.php">Chris
Hall</a></li>
<li><a
href="https://hitmewithyourbookreview.blogspot.com/">"Mike
Howlett</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thenamelesszine.org/">Hal C. F.
Astell's The Nameless Zine</a></li>
<li><a href="https://books.apocalypselaterempire.com/">Hal
C. F. Astell's Apocalypse Later Empire</a></li>
<li><a
href="https://www.monsterlibrarian.com/TheCirculationDesk/a-look-back-the-monster-librarian-interview-with-guy-n-smith/">The
Monster Librarian Interview With Guy N. Smith</a></li>
<a
href="https://www.monsterlibrarian.com/TheCirculationDesk/a-look-back-the-monster-librarian-interview-with-guy-n-smith/">
<li>Lord Sampers Library (@lordsamper on x.com) -
Thanks, Your Lordship!</li>
</a>
<li><a
href="https://www.monsterlibrarian.com/TheCirculationDesk/a-look-back-the-monster-librarian-interview-with-guy-n-smith/"></a><a
href="https://boingboing.net/2021/09/06/meet-guy-n-smith-the-guy-who-gave-the-world-7-novels-worth-of-crabs.html">Meet
Guy N. Smith on Boing Boing</a></li>
</ul>
<p>If you know of a site featuring horror, including Guy N.
Smith’s work, please let us know and we’ll try to add it
to the list! </p>
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<hr> <img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/october-offer-2024-eng-1.png"
class="float-imageR">
<h2>Find Your Inner (Dread) Sanctum!</h2>
<p>We are hoping to team up again with the people at <i>Shortly.film</i>
next year to run a short film competition via their new
horror/fantasy streaming outfit <i>Dread Sanctum</i>. The
run-up to the deadline will be longer and the choice of
theme broader than the previously-proposed short film
competition we wanted to run in August, so let us know
what you think! What or who is your favourite GNS novel or
character? Could you turn make a winning short film of
it/them?</p>
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<hr> <img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FanCon001.png"
class="float-imageL">
<h2>GNS Fan Convention September 2024</h2>
<p> This year’s fan convention was held at Knighton
Community Centre in Powys, Wales, on Sunday 1st September.
Guy always held his fan cons on the first Sunday in
September – and we aren’t about to break with that
tradition any time soon!</p>
<p> The room was kitted out with an auction table, merch
table, buffet table, hot and cold drinks station and, of
course, the all-important book table, which groaned under
the weight of the <i>new Black Hill Books paperback
editions of the Crabs books 1-3</i>, all signed by Guy’s
widow Jean Smith and daughter/editor <i>Tara Paulsson</i>.
In the corridor, there was a full savoury buffet spread of
sumptuous food provided by the Little Black Sheep Café
(Knighton). We didn’t go hungry or thirsty, at least! </p>
<p> There was a great turn-out of fans who were treated to
readings from Crabs books 1-3 – two of them were ‘live,’
by Tara, and the third was a pre-recorded ‘pre-listen’
from the <i>forthcoming audiobook of Night of the Crabs</i>,
expertly read by seasoned voiceover artist Pete Gold.</p>
<img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FanCon004.png"
class="float-imageR">
<p> Our IT wizard Reverend Doom had digitised Guy’s super
1990s VHS film <i>‘Wain House Rendezvous’</i> and he was
able to screen a 15-minute clip on the venue’s projector
for the gathered company. We watched and listened in
hushed awe to a lively, enthusiastic Guy (wearing what
looked like a green alien-patterned shirt!) proudly
showing off his beloved vintage book collection. It was
both heartwarming and a little heart-aching to see Guy
immortalised in his element. We miss him - but in many
ways, we still have so much of him.</p>
<p> Everyone was a winner by virtue of being there that day
- but some winners were more ‘winny’ than others as they
garnered trinkets and honours in a Crabs-themed quiz and a
raffle. We all drew the top prize, however, through our
immense collective enjoyment of the guest appearance of
successful author <i>Mark Morris</i>, who read from his
latest folk horror book, That Which Stands Outside -
highly recommended! Morris has kindly written the foreword
‘Confessions of a Convert’ for Origin of the Crabs (Book
3), all fan con copies of which he duly signed on the day,
and had driven all the way from York that morning (after
undergoing some surgery above his eye, the day before) and
stopped off with us for a few hours before making his way
elsewhere for a book festival the next day. What a star!</p>
<img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FanCon011.png"
class="float-imageL">
<p> The greatly-anticipated GNS auction was, in turns,
jovial, lively and tense as a few ‘hot’ items generated
bidding battles and Tara bumbled her way through her first
experience as an auctioneer with a large helping of
(unintentional) comedy! Donated to the auction were were
signed copies of short story anthology Short Cuts from
Steve Lockley, several signed titles from David Owain
Hughes, some Graveyard Rendezvous spares, an
editor-annotated manuscript of Night of the Crabs, signed
proof copies of Crabs 1-3 and much much more. The big
ticket item was a one-off handmade leather-bound parchment
copy of Night of the Crabs, complete with embedded claw,
which went to bidding behemoth Nick Caton! Guy’s snug I
Bought a Vampire Motorbike t-shirt (merch from that quirky
short film starring Neil Morrissey) went to writer David
Owain Hughes.</p>
<p> There was an array of old and new merch, ranging from
mugs and t-shirts to pens, fridge magnets and keyrings,
and the event raised around £1200 (before costs) for Black
Hill Books Ltd, which should go some way towards
furthering the Great Republication Project, helping us pay
for book cover and audio artists, and spread some Great
Scribbler love!</p>
<img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/FanCon002.png"
class="float-imageR">
<p>For an attendee’s eye view of the event, why not visit
Chris Elphick’s excellent write-up?</p>
<a
href="https://www.pixie-led.co.uk/2024/09/a-gathering-for-guy-part-3.html">pixie-led,
A Gathering for Guy.</a>
<p>All in all, a tremendous day (and weekend in some cases!)
was had by everyone in this exceptionally tight-knit and
friendly horror community, which is precisely what Guy
loved about his fan cons.</p>
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<hr>
<h2>“It’s all in the best poddable taste!”</h2>
<hr width="50%"> <img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Tara-1.png"
class="float-imageL">
<h3>Great Scribbler Podcast hosted by Tara Paulsson (and a
fridgedoorfull of haunted magnets)</h3>
<p>Thoughts, prayers and curses are underway as we ponder a
podcast format that will summon the spirit of the Great
Scribbler and resurrect the ghosts and ghouls of Graveyard
Rendezvous without taking too much time away from book
production! There are visual and audio options, public or
Patreon subscriber-only options and even sponsorship ideas
to consider! But we think that using a Graveyard
Rendezvous fanzine edition-by-edition approach will give
us focus and making the episodes publicly available will
raise visibility (or should that be audibility?), so we
might need to accept advertising as a way of funding
ourselves. The launch is likely to be announced by the
host Tara Paulsson on social media, so keep your eyes on
the various platforms and we’ll try to spread the word
when the time is right.</p>
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<hr width="50%">
<h3>Sabat: The Graveyard Vultures - Breakfast in the Ruins
Podcast Special</h3>
<p>A Halloween Treat! <i>Breakfast in the Ruins</i> is
broadcasting a <i>Halloween episode</i> on <i>Sabat: The
Graveyard Vultures</i>. In his podcast, creator and host
Andy Stimbot has previously featured the novels Night of
the Crabs, Crabs’ Moon and Crabs on the Rampage and also
interviewed his daughter (and BHB editor) Tara Paulsson.
In the following passage, we meet Graham Holden, who has
deservedly appeared on the podcast as a ‘Guy N. Smith
expert’, and will appear in the Sabat episode. Here, he
describes how he first chanced upon the Great Scribbler’s
work.</p>
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<hr width="50%">
<h2>Graham Holden - How I came across Guy N. Smith</h2>
<p>It must have been when I was around 15 or so. There was a
monthly book fair in the Assembly Rooms in Chichester. A
rather grand building, and I often felt quite out of place
initially walking into this building – but felt right at
home once I was in the hall with all the book stalls. On
one of my visits, whilst scanning along the bindings of
some paperbacks I spotted one called Throwback by an
author that I’d not heard of, a Guy N. Smith. The cover
was of a grizzly-looking ape like creature gnawing on some
unidentified bloody sinewy like thing. Underneath the
title was “PRIMITIVE, PRE-HUMAN, THEY SWARMED ACROSS THE
FACE OF THE LAND”. I couldn’t resist. I purchased it
straight away. This was my gateway book into the
fantastical horror world of Guy N. Smith. I devoured this
book rapidly, and my teenage mind couldn’t quite
comprehend what I was reading. Brutal, but compelling. I
was instantly hooked.</p>
<p>The next month I returned to the book fair and I couldn’t
quite believe my luck. The same stall had a whole bunch of
Guy N. Smith books – mostly of the “Crab” series. I bought
them all. And for a period in my mid-teens, I’d pick up
any GNS book I spotted and had a modest collection. As I
“grew up,” my interests moved on and I sold my collection.</p>
<p>Fast forward 30 odd years. There I was, wasting some time
before a physiotherapy session at the local hospital, so I
decided to pop into a charity shop for a look at what they
had on offer in the book section. I stopped in my tracks.
On the rotating wire rack nestled between some Mills &
Boon was a cover that was so out of place it was perverse.
Crabs: The Human Sacrifice. For 50p, I found myself right
back into the world of BIG GIANT CRABS, animal liberation,
wildfowling and more Click click clickety-click. I was
again hooked, but this time I had the internet, some
disposable income and a wealth of information for me to
research on Guy and the discovery of his works outside of
his horror writing – who knew I had an interest in Moles
and their Control! After picking up Writing Horror Fiction
(Writing Handbooks), I’ve now been inspired to give it a
go myself with the guidance from Guy himself.</p>
<p>This renewed discovery of Guy N. Smith also coincided
with the discovery of a podcast called Breakfast in the
Ruins, which is primarily a Michael Moorcock inspired
podcast, but Andy also covered other genre fiction. And
there was an episode of Night of the Crabs. I got in
contact, as a Moorcock fan and a GNS fan – how could I
not. Over the past few years, Andy has kindly invited me
as a guest to cover GNS-related books, along with some
other pulp horror. It’s been a blast. Coming up for this
Halloween special is Sabat 1: The Graveyard Vultures –
which should be a sordid affair!</p>
<p>You can find out more about the podcast at <a
href="https://breakfastintheruins.com">*Breakfast in the
Ruins</a></p>
<p><i>* Content warning for sexual violence and exasperated
hosts.</i></p>
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<hr width="50%"> <img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AShotOfStrange-1.png"
class="float-imageL">
<h3>Rather Catty!</h3>
<p>If you want to delve into another fascinating area of
Guy’s many interests, you can follow the current
Lincolnshire Big Cat Investigation series on the <i>Occultaria
of Albion</i> podcast and listen to various people’s
experiences of big cat sightings, including (in episode 3)
a sighting of a probable caracal on Black Hill by Guy’s
daughter Tara and her husband.</p>
<p>Podcast creator and host <i>Richards Daniels</i> has
recently written an article for Phantasmagoria magazine
celebrating 50 years of Guy N. Smith pulp horror novels,
which began with his first published book, Werewolf By
Moonlight. Daniels is currently touring with his show <a
href="https://www.occultariaofalbion.co.uk">The Filing
Cabinet of Fear</a> and his podcast is available on all
major platforms.</p>
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<hr>
<h2>And Last But Not Least - “Mystery Man” Diary 1957</h2>
<img
src="https://guynsmith.com/1/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/MysteryMan.png"
moz-do-not-send="true">
<p>Here is the sixth instalment of Guy’s secret teenage
diary, originally handwritten and published in the GNS
newsletters for the first time. Guy would have been just
18 years old when he wrote it and was already working in
the Midland Bank. Enjoy!</p>
<p><b>Wednesday March 20th</b><br>
Feeling much better today. In the lunch hour I went after
a record - tried 8 shops but couldn’t get it. I had to
take the registered letters again tonight. I got the 5.5
bus home. Did not go down to the hospital tonight. Just
had a quiet evening - did a bit of study & played some
records.</p>
<p><b>Thursday March 21st</b><br>
Best day yet on States. I got the 4.42 train home. Today I
got a record of Billy Thorburn’s “Ricochet.” I got home
& went in the wood with the gun. I had a couple of
shots at jays but got nothing. Helen Brewster came and
taught me book-keeping. She is suffering from rheumatism
in her back. She went at 9pm then I played records &
went to bed.</p>
<p><b>Friday March 22nd</b><br>
Quite a good day. I had a surprise. I was told I was
wanted down in Securities & who should be there but
Hugh Montgomery. We went out together in the lunch hour. I
shall see him again next week. Got the 4.42 train home.
Put in two more rows of parsnips, and another row of peas.
I did some more digging. I went out with the gun in Hopwas
wood but didn’t get a shot. I watched ‘Dragnet’ & then
played some records. I then wrote an article on records
for the ‘Tettenhall Observer.’</p>
<p><b>Saturday March 23rd</b><br>
I went early this morning so I could get away early. I got
home and finished off digging the centre patch. Dad came
home from hospital today. He looks O.K. again now. I went
shooting with Fred Cole on our own shoot. The hunt had
been across & things were rather tame. I had a shot at
a pigeon which began to ‘tower’ over Swinnerton’s. I
didn’t pick it up. Mum took me down to Watson’s to fetch a
football paper tonight. I amused myself this evening by
wrapping up an April Fool parcel. I don’t know who I’m
going to send it to.</p>
<p><b>Sunday March 24th</b><br>
Went to church in the morning. Came back and did some
gardening. I went round to see Billy and Nellie. He told
me the story of how he told Kitely that it was Fred Cole’s
job to climb up the T.V. mast & light the lamp at
night & Kitely believed him. I came back from Billy’s
and dug both banks by the wood hedge & set seeds in
them & mowed the lawn. I went down to Grandma’s in the
evening to exchange the Sunday papers. Quite a good day’s
work all round.</p>
<p><b>Monday March 25th</b><br>
A disappointing day. I am back on Remittance. We had a bit
of trouble balancing & I got the 5.40 bus home. I was
annoyed because I was unable to get to do any gardening.
Lance has been ‘ill’ all day & Mum had put him in my
room & he’d turned it into a bear garden. The old man
was a bit grumpy too, on about this & that. When I
took the dog for his last walk down the road I met a
fellow who said he was booking appointments for the 11
plus exam. We rang the police but he was genuine.</p>
<p><b>Tuesday March 26th</b><br>
Went on the bus to Longbridge this morning to fetch the
Austin credit. Quite a good day. I was the only one to fly
balance. I got the 5.5 bus. Walked up from Tamworth. I
went up to Mrs Winfield’s tonight. A very good night apart
from the fact that that girl was not there. Sam Loughead
enjoyed it too. We gave the fat lady a lift home. I’ll get
off with someone somehow!!!</p>
<p><b>Wednesday March 27th</b><br>
Today I was given the job of helping to clear the
stationery room. It was filthy! I had to take the
registered letters to post. I got the 5.25pm train home
& got home at 6.20pm. I did some gardening. I tidied
up the steps into the wood, put in a row of spring onions,
set the rest of the wood bank & put some fertiliser on
the garden. I did some studying also.</p>
<p><b>Thursday March 28th</b><br>
Just a normal routine day today. I got a couple of
records, “Feet Up” and “Quicksilver” from the secondhand
shop on Snow Hill. I got the 5.15 train & got home at
6.20. I gardened until 7.20pm. I put in 2 rows of turnips
& my marrows. I dug the flowerbed beneath the rustic
work. I also did some studying.</p>
<p><b>Friday March 29th</b><br>
A normal day. I went to Batt’s for a haircut. I
fly-balanced today. Mr Price the head messenger is
retiring and at 4.30 today a presentation was made to him.
Mr Iley made a speech. They gave him a spade and a fork,
and electric razor & a pipe & a pouch of tobacco.
I got the 5.15 train home. Home at 6.20. I finished
planting the woodbank & dug the bed in front of the
kitchen.</p>
<p><b>Saturday March 30th</b><br>
The batches wouldn’t balance at the office today. I got
the 1.35 bus home. Home at 3 0/c. I dug the flowerbed
under the kitchen window and put the potatoes (ninety
folds) in. Went shooting in Hopwas Wood with Fred Cole.
Had one shot - got nothing. I came back and dug half that
patch by the shelter. Mum ran me down to Watson’s to get a
football paper and a card for Billy.</p>
<p><b>Sunday March 31st</b><br>
Gardened practically all day, except for a 2 hour break in
the afternoon which I spent with Bill and Nellie. I have
now got practically everything done except the paths. Bill
complained about Fred tipping his rubbish in front of
Bill’s house so as the Coles were out this afternoon, I
tipped my rubbish in front of their gate!!</p>
<p><b>Monday April 1st</b><br>
I had a laugh thinking of Sid Faulkner’s face when he got
the parcel this morning. A very busy day today. I was told
there was someone to see me by the messages box & when
I got down who should be there but Morris, Walter &
Blackwall. We had a chat for 10 mins. We had a bit of a
job balancing & what with being busy I didn’t get home
till 8 o’clock.</p>
<p><b>Tuesday April 2nd</b><br>
Very busy again today. I got the 5.50 train home &
just missed my connection in Tamworth. I tried to ring
home & couldn’t get through. After about a quarter of
an hour I discovered that you now have to put 4d in the
box instead of 3d. I went dancing with Sam Loughead. The
girl I had hoped to see wasn’t up there but we had a good
time all the same.</p>
<p><b>Wednesday April 3rd</b><br>
Had a pretty big London Clearing today - didn’t finish
listing it until quarter to eleven. We were busy today
& I got the 6.5 bus home. I was very moody this
evening. It’s all this social standard (snobbery) business
that gets on my nerves. Much more of it & I shall be
properly up the wall. I shall make a move next Tuesday.</p>
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<hr> Newsletter written and compiled by Tara Paulsson. Black
Hill Books would like to say a big thank you to all our
guest contributors.<br>
<a href="blackhillbooks.co.uk"> <img
src="https://blackhillbooks.co.uk/newsletter/bhb-logo8.png" alt=""
moz-do-not-send="true"> <br>
©️2024 Black Hill Books Ltd.</a> </td>
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