All That Slithers:
Thirteen Stories to Squeeze Your Brain
🕷️ Welcome to the Lair of All That Slithers
Hardcovers are expensive. Monsters are priceless. This Kickstarter is your chance to pre-order All That Slithers, a creepy, candy-coloured horror anthology for readers 10+, packed with 13 unsettling stories, illustrated interiors, and exclusive merch.
By backing this campaign, you’re helping me bring this indie project to life: funding the print run, prepping the monster-themed goodies, and making sure every blood soaked bookmark and glow-in-the-dark pizza keyring finds its forever home.
Did you say illustrations?
I knew super early on that I wanted this collection to be illustrated, and I have always LOVED Stiff Ive’s work. Fun fact, back when we were in our early twenties I really wanted to buy one of Step’s original pieces, from memory it was two bunny like beings in love. It had her signature style: ethereal creatures, stunning colour palette and love oozing from the edges. I, however, was twenty, and put all my money towards travel or saturday nights, so missed out back then. Fast forward to my mid thirties and I found Steph and her artwork again. I immediately purchased a print of her piece called ‘Offering’ and it’s proudly framed in my daughters room. And now, five years later, I’m lucky enough to have some of her work in my own books. Life is wild.
All About Stiff Ives
Stiff Ives uses her art as a vehicle for communication, offering the viewer not only a visual expression of ideas, but a chance to connect deeper with the natural world. There are characters and themes that appear consistently in her work, igniting an interest in people to reconnect with wild life both externally and internally.
Evoking a feeling of reflective wonder in her work, Stiff strikes chords of contemplation within our hearts, asking us to consider the effects we may have on the reality beyond our selves.
Her human experience has given rise to the exploration of imagination, merging imagery from our modern reality with that of dream realms and internal veracities.
Stiff experiences the divine in all living creatures, by witnessing their genuity and integrity she has been able to cultivate these qualities herself, which is evident in her articulation as an artist. Each image is a gift of imagination, a call for compassion and an approach to healing, as Stiff Ives presents her Art and Medicine for the world.
FAQ’s
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Because Hard Covers are expensive, but I had a very particular vision for this collection. I love all of these stories so much, that I wanted to do the words, and the illustrations justice, by spending more on the exterior. And trust me - it pays off!
But it’s a big layout to purchase a lump of hard cover books not knowing how many I might sell - that’s where Kickstarter comes in. I can buy only what I need, and hopefully reach a wider audience while I do it!
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I’ve labelled these stories Bubble-gum Horror, due to their delightfully delicious colour palette , themes and my writing voice, but, they also fall under - Speculative Horror.
Think Twilight Zone meets K-Pop Demon Hunters.
What you won’t find in these stories: kidnappings/murders/general assaults…
What you will find? Werewolves, Jellyfish like aliens, Body Snatchers, Ghosts, Dystopian worlds - you know, the fun stuff.
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Bright visuals: Think neon alien splatter, glittery demon summoning spell books, and pastel coloured ice cream parlours filled with monsters. It swaps shadowy dread for vivid, eye-popping imagery.
Sticky sweetness: The tone often has a youthful, or campy energy- like a tree house slumber party, science class or a late night fishing trip.
Fun meets fear: While it can be brutal or eerie, it’s also self-aware, witty, and often emotionally resonant. It’s horror that knows it’s performing, and leans into the spectacle.
Bubble gum horror evokes an undeniably sticky sweetness to the story’s plot and tension. It’s perfect for middle-grade through to adult readers who want thrills without trauma, and for writers (like me) who love the balance of dread and delight.
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Monster High
Twilight Zone
Coraline
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Goosebumps
Black Mirror - minus the intense trauma
Wednesday
Out to get You by Josh Allen
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$500.
Kickstarter is all or nothing, meaning if I didn’t reach my goal, I would get nothing. So, I wanted to be realistic and aim for a number that I hoped I would get, so everyone who did take a chance at backing me would get their most delicious rewards.
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Spooky season, of course!
I’m aiming to get this project kicked off early October - really sink into all the spooky feels the season has to offer!
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December! Early December! I want these books to be out and about in time for Christmas!
Nothing screams Santa like alien invasions, ghost ships and carnivorous plants!
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The amazing Melbourne artist, Stiff Ives!
Steph and I go way back… all the way to the Riverton Hotel. She was the first person to educate me on veganism and I made her killer post mix concoctions.
I knew I needed to work with Steph at some point on this creative journey, and when I decided to self pub this series, she’s the first person I reached out to. Currently there will be three illustrations in the book, and if life and time permit… maybe more!
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There will be bookmarks, book plates, keychains, bubble-gum and more!
Plus a few back stage bonus’ like access to my first drafts and original cover designs.
More to come!