Now Available: DARK AWAKENINGS

Over 300 pages of supernatural horror fiction and academic nonfiction exploring the boundary between religion, horror, and spirituality.

CLICK HERE to purchase the book directly from the publisher and receive with it a CD of Matt's dark and thematically related music.

You can also buy the book online (from Amazon, Gavincuss Books, and other booksellers) or from your local bookstore.

NEWS - Updated June 4, 2011

1) PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEWS DARK AWAKENINGS:

Publishers Weekly ran a great review of Dark Awakenings last month. Here's an excerpt:

"Life is a horror for which there is neither remedy nor release in the seven metaphysical terror tales that make up the bulk of Cardin's provocative second collection (after Divinations of the Deep)....Cardin's tales are rich with references to Lovecraft, Nietzsche, and other writers whose work gives them unusual philosophic depth. This thinking-man's book of the macabre is capped by three essays, all of which speak eloquently to the supernatural themes of the stories."

2) I RESUME MY CYBER-LIFE AFTER A 5-MONTH HIATUS

In January I announced at my Teeming Brain blog, and also at my Facebook page and Twitter account, that I would abandon all social media and go on cyber-sabbatical for the whole of 2011, for personal reasons that had to do with psycho-cyber overload. It turned out that only five months were needed to clear the mind and re-center the soul. Among the more noteworthy developments -- or actually, ranking as the most noteworthy one -- I became the grandfather of twin boys. All in all it was a restful, transformative, and illuminating retreat, and I highly recommend that you try something similar if the idea has been nagging at you.

3) DARK FAITH 2 IS IN THE WORKS, AND I'M ABOARD

Last year's Dark Faith anthology from editors Maurice Broaddus and Jerry Gordon, published by Apex Books, was a major hit with readers and critics. It featured my story "Chimeras & Grotesqueries." Recently I was contacted with an invitation to submit something to the forthcoming sequel anthology. This promises to be good, again.

4) LIVE AT DEMON MUSE: NEW ARTICLE ABOUT CROWLEY, LEARY, WILSON, AND THE MUSE

At Demon Muse, my blog about cultivating a deep relationship with the creative daimon/muse/genius, I have published the second installment in my article series about the muse's ontological status. "Theology, Psychology, Neurology: Is the Muse Real? (Part Two)" discusses the linked experiences of Aleister Crowley, Timothy Leary, and Robert Anton Wilson in receiving perceived communications from "higher intelligences." It also brings comic books legends Alan Moore and Grant Morrison into the mix. And yes, this whole project is in process of being worked into a book.

5) EXCELLENT: LAST MONTH'S WORLD HORROR CONVENTION IN AUSTIN

In May the World Horror Convention came to Austin, which meant I was able to attend for the first time since 2003. (Previously I've attended the WHC in Seattle, Chicago, and Kansas City.) It was a wonderful event that went down swimmingly. One of the heads of the organizing committee (Nate Southard, an excellent friend and writer), contacted me late in the game to ask if I would be willing to serve as the convention's Volunteer Coordinator. So that's how I ended up being on the committee. This meant I helped with various organizational tasks throughout the weekend, which was really quite fun and fulfilling. I also had the chance to catch up with friends I haven't seen for nearly a decade. Programming-wise, I spoke on a panel titled "The Horror of the Academy," about the state of academia's relationship with horror today, and I moderated a panel titled "Which Religion Is the Right One?" My fellow panelists (Don Webb and Scott A. Johnson) and I didn't really answer the question, but we and the audience ended up having a fun time nonetheless.

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