‘Melon Head Mayhem’ Exclusive: New Horror Novel Brings The Monster Madness

New from Shortwave Publishing is Melon Head Mayhem, a deliciously nostalgic and terrifying throwback to the creature features of yore. Written by Alex Ebenstein, this is the first installment in the press’s Killer VHS Series. Dread Central is excited to exclusively reveal the novella’s cover, reminiscent of those VHS tape covers we both coveted and feared in our youth.
Read the full synopsis:
Have you ever wanted to live inside your favorite horror film? Prove you have what it takes to fight Freddy? Destroy Jason? Mangle Michael?
Cousins Carson and Sophia are in town for their grandma’s funeral and are, unknowingly, about to live out the nightmare that is every horror fan’s dream.
After they find an old unfamiliar VHS tape tucked away in grandma’s house, they figure the worst that can happen is a few cringeworthy moments and 90 minutes wasted. Instead, the video summons the movie monsters—local urban legends called melon heads—into their very real lives!
The destruction caused by the bloodthirsty melon heads has Carson and Sophia fighting to survive and sets them on a deadly path to the shores of Lake Michigan, home of the devilish beasts. They vow to destroy every last one of the melon heads and make sure these monsters never get a sequel.
Will they survive? Would you fare better?
Now check out the chilling cover, exclusively on Dread Central!

The Killer VHS Series is a new line of novellas where movie monsters come to life and old VHS tapes summon long-buried evils. The second entry, Candy Cain Kills by Brian McAuley (author of Curse of the Reaper), will be released in November.
Melon Head Mayhem author Ebenstein wrote the novel Curse Corvus. He’s also the founder and owner of Dread Stone Press, an independent small horror press.
Melon Head Mayhem hits shelves on July 11, 2023. Preorder your copy here.
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