Shock Totem is an American literary journal specializing in dark fantasy

Dark fantasy

Dark fantasy is a term used to describe a fantasy story with a pronounced horror element.-Overview:A strict definition for dark fantasy is difficult to pin down. Gertrude Barrows Bennett has been called "the woman who invented dark fantasy". Both Charles L...

 and horror

Horror fiction

Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...

. The debut issue was published on July 1, 2009. The publication's main goal is to promote and support new and established authors by focusing primarily on fiction, but also through editorials, essays and interviews (called “conversations”).

Issue #1 Contributors

• T.L. Morganfield
• Jennifer Pelland
• Mercedes M. Yardley
• Les Berkley
• Brian Rosenberger
• Don D’Ammassa
• Pam L. Wallace
• David Niall Wilson
  David Niall Wilson
  David Niall Wilson is an American writer primarily known for his works of horror, science fiction, and fantasy fiction.-Background:...
  
  
• Brian Rappatta
• Kurt Newton

Also features conversations with William Ollie, Alan Robert (Life of Agony

Life of Agony

-Formation and River Runs Red :The band was formed in the summer of 1989 by singer Keith Caputo, bassist Alan Robert and guitarist Joey Z. After playing with several drummers, they enlisted Type O Negative drummer Sal Abruscato before recording the debut album River Runs Red after they signed to...

, Spoiler NYC), and the legendary John Skipp

John Skipp

John Skipp is a splatterpunk horror and fantasy author and anthology editor, as well as a songwriter, screenwriter, film director, and film producer. He collaborated with Craig Spector on the 1989 anthology Book of the Dead, and has also collaborated with Marc Levinthal and Cody Goodfellow...

.

Issue #2 Contributors

• Ricardo Bare
• Kurt Newton
• Leslianne Wilder
• Vincent Pendergast
• Cate Gardner
• Grá Linnaea & Sarah Dunn
• Nick Bronson
• Christian A. Dumais
• David Jack Bell

Also features a conversation with James Newman

James Newman

James Newman may refer to:* James Newman , actor who stars on MTV's 2011 series Skins* James H. Newman , American astronaut* James R. Newman , mathematician and mathematical historian* James W...

, and nonfiction from Mercedes M. Yardley.

Issue #3 Contributors

• Tim Lieder
• John Haggerty
  John Haggerty
  John Haggerty is an influential Chicago guitarist. A key member of Naked Raygun during their heyday , Haggerty formed the band Pegboy, with brother Joe Haggerty on drums and Steve Saylors and Larry Damore of the Bhopal Stiffs, upon leaving Naked Raygun.The eldest son of a plumber father and a...
  
  
• Amanda C. Davis
• John Skipp
  John Skipp
  John Skipp is a splatterpunk horror and fantasy author and anthology editor, as well as a songwriter, screenwriter, film director, and film producer. He collaborated with Craig Spector on the 1989 anthology Book of the Dead, and has also collaborated with Marc Levinthal and Cody Goodfellow...
  
  
• WC Roberts
• Merrilee Faber
• Jeremy Kelly
• Aaron Polson
• Joseph Morgado
• Christopher Green
  Christopher Green (author)
  Christopher Green is an Australian writer of speculative short fiction.-Biography:Green is a graduate of Clarion South and currently lives in Geelong, Australia. His first story was published in 2008, entitled "Lakeside" which was published in the anthology Dreaming Again, edited by Jack Dann....
  
  
• Steven Pirie
  Steven Pirie
  Steven Pirie is an English writer of horror, fantasy and humour based in Liverpool.-Novels:* Digging up Donald * Burying Brian -Short stories:...
  
  
• Mekenzie Larsen
• S. Clayton Rhodes

Also conversations with D. Harlan Wilson

D. Harlan Wilson

D. Harlan Wilson is an American short-story writer and novelist whose body of work has been associated with the genres of irrealism, science fiction, fantasy, horror, bizarro fiction, megalofiction, splatterpunk, absurdism, literary fiction, ultraviolence, and postmodernism...

 and Count Lyle of the band Ghoultown

Ghoultown

Ghoultown is a popular horrorpunk/gothabilly band from Texas, specializing in a mixture of classic garage punk and psychobilly music and dark, horrifying lyrics...

, nonfiction from Mercedes M. Yardley.

Issue #4 Contributors

• Lee Thompson
• Tom Bordonaro
• Rennie Sparks
• David Busboom
• Weston Ochse
  Weston Ochse
  Weston Ochse is an American author and educator. He has won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel and been nominated for the Pushcart Prize for his short fiction.- Biography :Weston Ochse was born in Gillette, Wyoming...
  
  
• Justin Paul Walters
• Michael Penkas
• Jaelithe Ingold
• A.C. Wise

Also conversations with Kathe Koja

Kathe Koja

Kathe Koja is an American writer. She was initially known for her intense speculative fiction for adults, but over the past few years has turned to writing young adult novels....

 and Rennie Sparks of the band The Handsome Family

The Handsome Family

The Handsome Family is an alternative country band, formed in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The band was formed in 1993 by husband-and-wife duo Brett Sparks and Rennie Sparks and drummer Mike Werner, although the band would later revolve around Rennie, who writes the lyrics, and Brett, who writes...

, nonfiction from K. Allen Wood.

History

Shock Totem Publications, LLC was founded in 2008 by K. Allen Wood, and assisted by John Boden, Nick Contor, Chris Vrysen, and Michelle Howarth. Originally meant to be a monthly e-zine, the decision was made to publish a bi-annual print digest in early 2009.

External links

• Official Website
• Official MySpace
• Official Facebook
• Official Twitter