PROUD TO HAVE MY MENTAL HEALTH POETRY IN THE AWAKENINGS REVIEW-A PLACE OF HOPE, UNDERSTANDING AND NEW BEGINNINGS

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Happy National Poetry Month everybody! To celebrate, I’d like to share a few of my poems that were published in THE AWAKENINGS REVIEW,a cool publication that features the work of poets, writers, and artists living with mental illness or having a firsthand connection to it. Many of you know that I deal with chronic pain, PTSD, and was recently diagnosed with ADHD. Writing, especially poetry, is one of the ways I deal with those issues. It helps me breathe and express myself without creating more damage.

While I’d already written a lot of poems about my situation, THE AWAKENINGS REVIEW prefers work that shows personal growth and the writer moving forward with their lives. This can be subtle, because in real life that is often what recovery looks like. Chronic mental health issues never just disappear. They’re not colds or indigestion. Our brains are way too complicated and oddly smart for easy solutions. Even when we’re able to make improvements, there are triggers that can set us off seemingly out of nowhere.

That doesn’t mean we should ever stop trying to improve our lives and I got an opportunity to do that when I was finally approved for spinal surgery last year. Over a decade of broken, dislocated, and degenerating vertebrae had kept me prisoner, stealing my physical life at what should’ve been my peak. Instead, I ended up in a wheelchair and became a twisted factory of rage, hate, and self-loathing. My body was constantly screaming in pain, so I took a lot of medication in hopes of feeling better. But it mostly brought a slew of side effects that really messed me up.

These poems were written after the surgery. “Cracks” was written shortly after coming home from the hospital, while “Hole” was written about 9 months later. I’d graduated from physical therapy and the cheerful bi-weekly sessions were over. Nothing was being required of me, so I slowly stopped doing what I was supposed to. Remember how I said the brain is a sneaky saboteur, ready to hijack our bodies when we’re not paying attention? Bingo!

I went back to eating crap food, not doing much, and even stopped writing. Even though it’s been kind of upsetting, I’m lucky to have healthcare people who told me I was going down the wrong road. Our brains try to trip us up, “hey you don’t want to do this, it’s gonna hurt. Just sit back down on the couch and eat some more garbage.” Nope, fuck that voice and mindset. I’m not going down without a fight, and I hope that reading these poems helps you take a similar approach. Living a decent life is a lot like marriage: it takes significant amount of effort, but the results are worth it. There’s no big red “That was easy!” button to fix everything instantly, but once you make it a little way up out of that hole you’re stuck in, you’ll feel something you haven’t enjoyed for. a while. You’ll be proud of yourself.

Thanks for taking a few minutes to check this out! If you’d like to submit your own work to THE AWAKENINGS REVIEW, or support their work by ordering a copy, head on over to: www.AwakeningsProject.org   to check them out.

IF YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A FAST AND FURIOUSLY TERRIFYING READ, SCARLETT R. ALGEE’S NOVELLA “AND CAST IT FROM YOU” IS JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED. JUST STAY OUT OF THE SHED!

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And Cast It From You
Scarlett R. Algee
Cold War Radio Press (October 1, 2024)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

Ever heard the saying, “small but mighty”? It usually refers to someone or something who may not appear to be much of a threat, but when they get going, look out! The something in this case is Scarlett R. Algee’s novella And Cast It From You. Not only does the book appear deceptively brief, but the evil inside waiting for readers is tiny and not the sort of thing that strikes fear into the hearts of anyone except maybe neat freaks. Intrigued? Then let’s check it out!

Our narrator, Kris Winters, has inherited her late grandmother’s house—a place full of fond memories, country goodness, and love. Not too many people can say that about their first home! Everything is great, except for one small problem: the shed is NOT fine.” Readers will soon discover just how much of an understatement that is.

Even so, how dangerous could a small shed full of odds and ends be? I mean, sure, there’s two decades worth of heavy yellow dust on everything, which certainly could be a hazard to a person with allergies. Kris doesn’t say she has a history of allergies and seems unconcerned when she approaches the clean up job, but something in that shed turns what should be a joyful experience into relentless creeping horror that makes you want to scream. Alone in the middle of nowhere with her options narrowing fast, Kris has to make an emergency decision and stop the misery while she still can. Or is she already too late?

Wow! This reviewer gives And Cast It From You by Scarlett R. Algee a hearty 5 Star Rating! At the time of this review, this excellent novella is available on Amazon Kindle for just $2.99 (sale price) or as a paperback for $6.95. A true case of small but mighty, this story will stay stuck in your head long after you read it. Big monsters may be loud and scary, but it’s the tiny ones that’ll take you down and drive you mad while doing it. So, if you happen to be house hunting, just tell your realtor to take any houses with small rustic sheds out back right off your viewing list. Better safe than sorry!

Scarlett R. Algee’s work has appeared in many places, including Bards and Sages Quarterly, Body Parts Magazine, and The Wicked Library. She’s also the author of Bleedthrough and Other Small Horrors. You can find Scarlett on Reddit as u/Cold_War_Radio Thanks for stopping by and keep reading independent horror

Brian James Lewis is a disabled writer, poet, and book reviewer with PTSD whose work has appeared in Trajectory Journal, Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer

Thanks for stopping by and remember: keep reading independent horror!

IF YOUR IDEA OF HAPPY HOLIDAYS INCLUDES READING SOME GOOD HORROR STORIES, “THE RACK II” DELIVERS!

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Book Review: THE RACK II

by Brian James Lewis | Dec 22, 2025 | Book Reviews, Hellnotes Reviews, Horror Authors / Books, Horror News | 0 comments

THE RACK II: More Stories Inspired By Vintage Paperbacks
Tom Deady, ed.
Greymore Publishing (October 14, 2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

Hello horror fans! I’ve got a special treat to talk about this week: The Rack II is a smoking cool anthology of short horror stories inspired by the vintage horror and mystery paperbacks of the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s. These were the books that appeared on creaky, wobbling racks everywhere from gas stations to airport gift shops. You’d just be minding your own business when: “Whoa! Is that a giant snake exploding out of that guy’s chest?” They were luridly colored, terrifying, and sometimes pretty dang sexy. Pulling you in, making you want to take them home and soak in every word. The main thing is that these books were our gateway drug, what pulled us in the direction of wanting to be writers ourselves. We wanted to make somebody shiver under the blankets and not want to leave their bed because something might be hiding in the dark, just waiting for a nice, tasty foot…

Some younger writers today are bummed that they missed those predigital times, that first nibble delivered to their eyes by whispering paper that sometimes smelled a little bit funky as that barbed hook penetrated their flesh. Fortunately, Tom Deady and a crew of really cool writers, along with ace artist Lynne Hansen, put together The Rack, which is a true monster of a book. A Whitman’s sampler of short horror (minus the gross downer flavors) that gave readers that same tug and reeled them into our world. The stories were vintage inspired but stepped away from inappropriate stereotypes, cut the racism and sexism and just kicked ass. If you have not yet read The Rack, I encourage you to treat yourself to a good time and get it.

I was a firm believer that nobody was going to top that great work until I got a review copy of The Rack II. Introduction by Mother Horror herself, Sadie Hartman, a great poem by Maxwell I. Gold to kick things off, and more stellar stories by the creepy crew of stalwarts, including Lee Murray, Christa Carmen, and Larry Hinkle, along with all-star contributors like Joe R. Lansdale, Jonathan Maberry, and Poppy Z. Brite. Basically a shit ton of great writers with the aim of terrifying readers. Holy Hades, Batman, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore! Let’s go take a look at what we’re in for…

The Laffin’ Man by Poppy Z. Brite is about a peculiar 70’s and 80’s item that was hung on the wall of many a bar and pizza shop. The one I was familiar with spit water on you when you pulled his tie and then laughed with a voice that’s best described as a “demented old man doing creepy things behind a tall shelf in a porn shop”. The characters in Brite’s story meet a whole wall full of these creepy freaks at a shopping mall tobacco shop and one of them falls in love, most likely because his teenaged life is so devoid of happiness. The narrator is repulsed. Something about these battery-operated novelties is very unsettling, almost as if they’re the harbingers of evil. But he likes seeing his friend happy and buys a Laffin’ Man for him. It’s just a toy, right? Right?

Lee Murray’s story The Mall also uses a similar backdrop of the huge indoor retail acreage with restaurants and a movie theater for her slow-building tale of terror. This one takes a more adult angle of infidelity in a marriage that’s having dire consequences on the one person who’s not guilty of anything. He’s just a kid named Matty with a broken arm caused by his father’s attention to anything female. But today, Dad promised to behave himself so that Mom can do some covert Christmas shopping. I wonder if he’ll be able to hold up his end of the deal?

Christa Carmen always brings her A game, and her story Comeback Kid is no exception. Nan is an Olympic level gymnast who is planning to be a trainer. Unfortunately, to do so, she must work with her former trainers, and things get weird fast. Why are they working her out so hard if she’s just going to be a coach? Who is the other gymnast working in a hidden gym? A lot of unsettling things are often swept under the rug in professional sports, with the victims shoved off into obscurity. This time there’s a lot more at stake than winning a piece of metal to strap around one’s neck.

Greed motivates a lot of people, and Chandler Pratt is no exception. A college professor who marries the daughter of a very rich man in effort to gain his riches, Pratt despises his wife and considers her gross and unattractive. But when you’re a Head Hunter you do what needs to be done until you get what you want. B.D. Prince gives us a great story that juxtaposes horror with humor. An exploding cigar, the father-in-law’s hatred of Pratt’s manbun, and the younger man’s plan that’s hatched in a shop full of dark magic antiques. He practically has the front door key in his pocket when he arrives back at the mansion with a perfect birthday gift for the cranky old bird. What could possibly go wrong?

Joe R. Lansdale stays with the quiet, suspenseful feel of The Rack II with his contribution By the Hair of the Head, which draws readers in dangerously close. A young writer, fresh from college, takes unique lodging in an old lighthouse still inhabited by its keeper even though its time of use has passed. Initially things seem almost idyllic, but as time passes the young writer begins having vivid nightmares. Some nights after too many brandies the lighthouse keeper tells intriguing tales that include a beautiful witch, a magician, and a daughter. But when our narrator asks pointed questions, the lighthouse keeper clams up. What is the old fellow trying to hide? Why doesn’t the lighthouse feel like a safe haven anymore? All will be revealed in time and the answer is as plain as The Hair of the Head.

You’ve probably already guessed, but my rating of The Rack II is a hearty 5 STARS! Every single story inside is fantastic, and I would have loved to cover each of them in great detail, but my goal here is to give you a review that sharpens your appetite and doesn’t flog all the fun into the ground. There is so much more to explore for yourself, such as creepy houses that call your name, a virtual pet that may have a strong connection to the real world, and one day finding out that your marriage is over because of ancient codes your partner must follow, or else. Go on now, take a walk down that dark hallway, so that YOU can enjoy the thrill of being hooked!

Want more information about both editions of The Rack (I seriously encourage you to buy both, because they really are that good) and Stoker Award winning author Tom Deady? Then head on over to https://www.tomdeady.com/ or find him over on Facebook at https://facebook.com/tomdeady.

Interested in getting some awesome artwork or a cool cover for your upcoming release? Then get in touch with Lynne Hansen at www.LynneHansenArt.com.

About Brian James Lewis

Brian James Lewis is a disabled writer and poet with PTSD whose work has recently appeared in Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and in multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer He has been reviewing books for Hellnotes since 2016.

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! I’VE RETURNED TO HELLNOTES AND HERE’S MY LATEST REVIEW WITH THEM!

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Book Review: THE ZAPHNURR PHASE

by Brian James Lewis | Nov 17, 2025 | Book Reviews, Hellnotes Reviews, Horror Authors / Books, Horror News | 0 comments

The Zaphnurr Phase
Brick Marlin
Seventh Star Press (July 1, 2025)
Reviewed by Brian James Lewis

 Hey there, fans of horror and science fiction! It’s been a while, but I’m glad to be back on your screen giving you the scoop on new books and some classics too. Today’s exciting new read is The Zaphnurr Phase by HWA member Brick Marlin. This novel is a great mix of dystopian worlds with both psychological horror and some truly terrifying scenes. Let’s take a quick peek inside!

The world as we currently know it has ceased to exist, but there is still life in the colonies, city-sized worlds that seem to float above the desolate earth. Sarah is tired of the increasingly dangerous and restrictive colony that she and her boyfriend, Kentil, exist in. But before they can escape, he disappears, leaving her alone and pregnant in a place that is governed by a corporate entity called M-Corp that enforces its laws through the Nazi-like Demi agents who are as evil as they look. Sarah goes through a major shitstorm of bad events until she finally gets a chance to leave Perrill with her baby. Once the Demi realize what’s going on, they do everything in their power to put the blocks to her. Lethal force is authorized, but Sarah is a strong woman who fights until she loses consciousness.

After a pretty entertaining interaction with an alien transport vehicle, Sarah makes it to another colony called Gorph, where everything seems to be much better than it was in her old life. Whew! Now if she can only find Kentil and start fresh… But it’s no small task to find her boyfriend in the huge city where there is just as much virtual reality as there is concrete. Plus, despite the good pay and nice living space, her job is kind of funky. She’s also never truly alone, because a microprocessor has been installed into her brain as part of this “new and improved” world. Nothing seems permanent except her AI assistant, Vodburrk, whom she doesn’t entirely trust. Will Sarah find her missing boyfriend? Will she finally settle in Gorph? Will she ever feel safe in this new colony or go on the run again? I could tell you, but where’s the fun in that? Gleemer says that your best course of action is to get a copy of The Zaphnurr Phase and enjoy all the thrills and chills firsthand. You’ll also find out who or what Gleemer is. It’s currently available in both digital and paper formats from your favorite bookseller today.

I rate The Zaphnurr Phase by Brick Marlin a hearty 5 STARS! It’s a great mix of horror, science fiction, and Marlin’s unique sense of humor which provides some much-needed bright spots in a dark world. All of this is wrapped in a dash of hope, along with some well executed plot twists that’ll keep you turning pages until the dynamic end. Although I have a feeling that the conclusion of The Zaphnurr Phase might just be delivering us to the beginning of Marlin’s next novel, which is currently in progress.

One of the easiest ways to find out more about Brick Marlin is to head on over the Seventh Star Press website at: www.seventhstarpress.com/books/brick-marlin There you’ll find links to Marlin’s Facebook, Instagram, Goodreads, and Patreon accounts, as well as what other titles are currently available.

Brian James Lewis is a disabled writer and poet with PTSD whose work has recently appeared in Mythic Picnic, The Awakenings Review, and in multiple horror anthologies. Please visit him at: www.damagedskullwriterandreviewer.com, X/Twitter @skullsnflames76, or https://facebook.com/DamagedSkullWriterandReviewer  He has been reviewing books since 2016

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY TO DANIEL BRAUM AND HIS NEW RELEASE “PHANTOM CONSTELLATIONS” NOW AVAILABLE FROM CEMETERY DANCE!

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Hey guys and gals! It’s your old pal Skull sharing the good news of Daniel Braum’s new release Strange Constellations! Published by Cemetery Dance, this great collection of stories is already making waves in the Amazon book category rankings and getting positive reviews. The stories I’ve read so far are amazing and I’ll have a review up soon on Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer, Hellnotes, Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook. Until then, stay cool and keep reading independent horror!

HAPPY VETERANS DAY WITH RESPECT AND THANKS FROM DAMAGED SKULL WRITER AND REVIEWER

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We are fortunate to have a great deal of freedom in this country. For example, freedom of speech allows me to write and publicly post about my gratitude today. We’re free to travel, to dress how we like, and to express our political views. These things were not given to us on a silver platter. No, our freedom has been and is being paid for by the men and women of our nation’s armed forces. Many of whom gave their lives so that we could be free and safe from those who would harm us or invade our shores. Many of these people have also returned home to their families and the land they love. Some are significantly different than they were before with prosthetic arms, legs, severe scarring, and that invisible but deadly demon: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. We can’t fix those things, no matter how much we would like to. But, we CAN give veterans and active service members the respect and appreciation they deserve. It doesn’t cost anything or take a long time to say “THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.” but to a soldier it means the world.

WHAT’S EVERYBODY READING THIS WEEK? YOUR OLD PAL SKULL IS TUCKING INTO SOME GOOD STUFF (AND CATCHING UP ON REVIEWS)

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Hiya Gang! It’s your old pal Skull, freshly resurrected, yanked from the grave if you will, by my mortal host Brian James Lewis in the magical time that straddles Halloween and Dios Los Muertos. After I got done cursing him out in as many languages as I could come up with, he sat me down in the reviewer’s chair and set me loose on his TBR pile. Let me tell ya, it looks like your old pal Skull has plenty of job security in this joint!

Anyway, on to the good stuff. James Carlson’s Gloom House Press has returned with a THIRD annual LGBTQ+ charity anthology featuring many awesome writers including Rebecca Rowland, James Carlson, Leo X Robertson, and…that’s all I can tell you right now because Axle the dog ate our copy of this book. No BS, the damn dog really ate the book! This has never happened before at the Damaged Skull Writer and Reviewer office, but we will purchase a fresh copy when we can to finish the actual review. Aren’t you glad I’m back? This place went right down the crapper without me!

What I can tell you is that WE’LL ALWAYS BE HERE celebrates the wonderful diversity of everyone who makes up the Horror Community by standing proud and shouting loud that we love ALL our writers and are unwilling to accept any discrimination or trash talk about these fine folks who put their hearts on the page when they create. The stories I did read were fantastic, and I look forward to reading the rest soon-thanks again, Axle! and providing a full review. But there’s no need to wait for me. you can get your own copy of WE’LL ALWAYS BE HERE from your favorite bookseller. Mine came from Amazon, but I know that Godless also carries Gloom House books and isn’t run by billionaires, so you might enjoy supporting them instead. Just be careful, because there is something about this book that’s yummy to dogs. Probably best to put it on a high shelf.