They’ll do anything to protect their way of life. Anything.

Welcome to Priory, a small gated community in the UK, where the only thing worse than an ancient monster is the group worshipping it. They'll do anything to protect their secrets, especially with Charles Erich at the helm.

The question is, how much influence can a religious leader like Charles Erich truly have over his followers? If the time comes, would he ever allow them to leave? And is that which slithers below true evil, or does evil reside in the people of Priory?

Priory. A community of one mind and purpose. A place of order, commitment, peace, and service. A perfect world, building on mind shattering secrets from beyond the pale.

Enter...if you dare.

THE OUTSIDERS follows five shared-world stories by five authors, each one delving into the world of Lovecraftian cults, murder, indoctrination, and our quest to belong. If you dare follow this UK invasion of five prime authors as they each tell their own story of the people living behind Priory's steel gates and high walls, you'll quickly find yourself an outsider as well.

Featuring stories by Stephen Bacon, James Everington, Gary Fry, V.H. Leslie, and Rosanne Rabinowitz. Carrying on the tradition of H.P. Lovecraft.

Proudly brought to you by Crystal Lake Publishing – Tales from the Darkest Depths

Interview with one of the authors:

So what makes The Outsiders so special?

James Everington: Each of the stories in The Outsiders is set in or around the gated community of Priory. The shared world setting is something that seems very much more than the sum of its parts; each of the fantastic authors included inside contributes something new to the locale but also does something original within it. The different stories explore different notions of belonging, ‘Britishness’, race and xenophobia, and community. And they’re all damn scary to boot. It’s an anthology I’m very proud to have been included in.

Tell us more about your lead character.

James Everington: My story, ‘Impossible Colours’, has two: Michala is a mixed-race police officer investigating strange behaviour in Priory while not knowing how much she belongs in the police force or society as a whole. Not knowing how much society will let her belong. Meanwhile, the person she is investigating, a little-England racist, has his own thoughts and fears about belonging and about what might lurk inside Priory’s walls, into which he is desperate to gain entrance...

Why should readers give this shared-world anthology a try?

James Everington: Because the shared-world element, the British setting, and the sheer talent of the authors involved (plus me!) make The Outsiders a cut-above all the generic ‘Lovecraftian’ anthologies out there. It’s not just reusing the same hackneyed plots and monsters, its retooling them for the present day.

The Outsiders eBook categories:

• Horror Short stories
• Horror anthologies
• Lovecraftian
• Fantasy
• UK Horror Fiction
• Occult Horror
• Unexplained Mysteries