Dave's work
Here's where you'll find out more about Dave's work, including links to buy and/or read them for yourself.
Fiction
Welcome to Kingsworth, why not stay a while?
The sleepy Warwickshire town of Kingsworth in the middle of England is, without doubt, a nice place to visit. There’s a castle, great schools, and lots of green space to enjoy.
But, like most nice places to visit, if you scratch the surface, you’ll find something a little darker. You know the kind of thing; unsettling stories that locals love to tell outsiders with the sole purpose of getting under their skin. Kingsworth is no different…there’s plenty to discover among its streets and homes that the local tourist board wouldn’t want you to hear about.
Whether it’s the mystery of the supernatural podcaster who vanished without a trace, the tragic tale of the local girl who got lost in the woods one Halloween, or the horrible fate that was waiting for a widow who just wanted to visit her husband’s grave, there’s more to Kingsworth than meets the eye. Oh, and what exactly happened to all those preschoolers that chilly afternoon?
Come along to Kingsworth and find out for yourself. In fact, why not spend a year here? There’s lots for you to uncover, a story for every month of the year in act, so join your tour guide Dave Musson and go Once More Round the Sun with him.
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“Musson’s collection is quick to read, hard to put down, and will live rent-free in your head once you’ve finished it. Once More Round the Sun isn’t just good, it’s damned right compelling.”
Caitlin Marceau, award-winning author of This Is Where We Talk Things Out
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“You may know him for his love of all things Stephen King, but goddamn, don’t sleep on Dave Musson the writer. Once More Round the Sun is a deft card trick of a collection, flitting from horror to heart-felt to humour and back again. His voice sings, blinds with its brilliance, then stabs. Consider me a fan.”
Spencer Hamilton, author of The Fear and Welcome to Smileyland
Coming 13 August
Cover design by Rooster Republic Press
The kids are alright...aren't they?
Something weird is happening in the Happy Woodland Nursery - the delightful middle class preschool setting for the delightful middle class children in the delightful middle class town of Kingsworth. Spots have appeared on all of the young folk in the Badger Sett room and the staff can't work out what's caused them.
For the most part, the little boys and girls seem fine. But then, naptime rolls around and things change.
Delve into this twisted tale from author Dave Musson, then stick around ten more afterwards - there's creepy dolls, unwelcome visitors, evil spirits and a few bad dreams too.
“The stories are short in size, but pack a huge punch in the shock and fear factor, making both collections a fun, captivating read, guaranteed to leave the reader with at least one story that will stay with them long after they’ve finished it…Musson has zoned in everyday fears with both volumes, fears the reader may not realize even existed. His writing is brilliant. Smooth, concise and descriptive, his words perfectly capturing the world he has crafted for his reader. His stories are horrific, scary and every uncomfortable emotion in between, yet engrossing and all too unforgettable.”
Belinda Brady, reviewing for THE HORROR TREE
"A delightful little bundle of horrors, each one invoking a sense of dread or fear or astonishment in their short word count. This type of storytelling is extremely tricky. How do you give a reader a sense of place, character and suspense in such a short amount of word? Yet Dave pulls this off to great effect.
"I found that Dave has a particular talent for writing about parents and the fears they have for their children. As a parent myself I aim to have some words with him about the nightmares he put into my head."
Jamie Stewart, author of MONTAGUE'S CARNIVAL OF DELIGHTS AND TERROR
"Dave Musson has crafted quick and delightful reads for the child-horror fan. The scenes are all too familiar for those with spawn and Musson's unique twist on everyday tasks will give readers pause when they hug their own little darlings."
Rowan Hill, Author of FOXFIRE and IN THE ARCTIC SUN
Out now!
Cover design by 5Y5T3M4T1C D3CL1N3
Nurse? Nurse??
The last place the man in the otherwise empty ward wanted to be on a stifling summer's day was in hospital, but he'd passed out at work and didn't really have a choice. Still, at least he was feeling better now. Well, kind of...
No-one seemed to be responding when he pushed the call button - probably no-one could hear the button over the white noise that screeched every time he tried. And just what was going on with the colours in the room beyond the curtain pulled around his bed? They weren't normal.
Good job he had his anchor to tie him to the real world...whatever that is.
Join Dave Musson for a weird trip to a weird hospital, then stick around for 10 more tiny tales of terror featuring creepy balloons, creepy vending machines, creepy answerphones, and horses...that are creepy.
“The stories are short in size, but pack a huge punch in the shock and fear factor, making both collections a fun, captivating read, guaranteed to leave the reader with at least one story that will stay with them long after they’ve finished it…Musson has zoned in everyday fears with both volumes, fears the reader may not realize even existed. His writing is brilliant. Smooth, concise and descriptive, his words perfectly capturing the world he has crafted for his reader. His stories are horrific, scary and every uncomfortable emotion in between, yet engrossing and all too unforgettable.”
Belinda Brady, reviewing for THE HORROR TREE
"Dave Musson gives us some of his most compelling work in Tiny Tales of Terror Volume 2 - Anchor and Other Stories. In this collection of microfiction, Musson presents readers with stories that are deliciously horrifying and often left satisfyingly ambiguous. Each story is an indulgence to be savoured slowly, like a glass of your favourite wine. Musson is one of the best new voices in the indie horror world; his work is not to be missed."
Kelly Brocklehurst, editor of THE SACRAMENT
Out now!
Cover design by 5Y5T3M4T1C D3CL1N3
Before the longest day, one hell of a night...
The five friends behind the Cultcha Vultchas blog were always on the lookout for a brand experience to write about. However, they'd probably never expected one of those excursions to involve spending the night with a bunch of boomers waiting to worship the arrival of the sun.
And yet, that's exactly what they found themselves doing the night before the summer solstice. The young folk had travelled to a car park on the edge of some woods ready to experience Litha - the name given to the Wiccan Sabbat celebrated at the summer solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year and, in some traditions, a time for battle between light and dark. They didn't know exactly what was in store for them, but that's all part of the fun...isn't it?
Take Dave Musson's hand once more as he walks you through a path of more Tiny Tales of Terror. If you manage to make it to sunrise, stick around for short, sharp stabs of bugs, mobsters, monsters, and even a dodgy politician. Scary stuff!
“Musson writes with startling clarity, allowing the terror in his prose to come into horrifying view. This collection is full of focused fear; brace yourself and feast your eyes.”
Michael R Goodwin, author of SMOLDER and HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO BURN
“Musson presents a tidy collection of bite sized nightmares sprinkled with dead pan humour. Quickfire horror at its finest and most British.”
Christopher Badcock, author of THOSE YOU KILLED.
Out now!
Cover design by 5Y5T3M4T1C D3CL1N3
Just another peaceful visit to her husband's grave...
Ava-Mae is making one of her regular visits to the final resting place of her husband. As always, she's immaculately dressed, has an ice-cream in hand, and is lost in thought and memories. But today's visit - on the third anniversary of Phillip's death - is about to take a horrific turn.
Take Dave Musson's hand once more as he guides you through another collection of pint-sized scary stories. There's plenty to be terrified by here...just be grateful they're over quickly.
"These tales may be tiny but they bring all the terror and the fun you want from a good horror story. Short, sharp and spooky! Amongst this collection of Tiny Tales of Terror, lies the piece de resistance, You’re Melting. Not as tiny as the other tales, You’re Melting has everything I want in a horror story, well-drawn characters, emotion, escalating tension, hooded figures and rats!"
Denver Grenell, author of 20,000 BLOODY WORDS and THE BURNING BOY.
Coming soon!
Cover design by 5Y5T3M4T1C D3CL1N3
"I woke up screaming just like, deep down, I knew I would."
Come see the hall of mirrors, a place to lose yourself...and maybe your mind too. Mirrored is the debut short story from Dave Musson and explores the madness within those sheets of glass.
Also collected here are are further 10 Tiny Tales of Terror - a bagful of microfiction from the same author to scare you in small doses.
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Non-fiction
Put together as a passion project by King-obsessive Dave Musson, The Ultimate Stephen King Quiz Book features more than 3,000 questions spread across 172 individual, 19-question quizzes. It is a true test for Constant Readers everywhere. Not only that, you’ll also find haikus, trivia, and a special foreword from Michael Roffman - co-host of The Losers' Club podcast.
Cover design by Loudmouththreads
In Forward! Coventry Bears season ticket holder and co-host of the Bear Necessities podcast Dave Musson takes you through the entirety of the club’s twentieth anniversary season in 2018 – from the opener opener against Super League’s Leeds Rhinos to a final victory at home to Hunslet and everything in between, including the visit of Bradford Bulls, a Challenge Cup run & more! It's not a horror story - although it does reference Carrie at one point!
Cover design by Alan Robinson
Published work
Dave's story Mirrored is featured in the anthology Welcome to the Funhouse, edited by Jamie Stewart and Kelly Brocklehurst.
Dave's short story Anchor appeared in the Summer 2022 edition of The Reach Literary Magazine.
Dave's story Too Late appeared in the 17 July 2022 edition of Trembling With Fear, on Horror Tree.
Dave's story Buzzing appeared in the end of summer 2022 edition of Trembling With Fear, on Horror Tree.
