LISBON FALLS — At 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15, the Lisbon Falls Library will host an evening of readings from the book “Bleed,” a charitable horror anthology to benefit the National Children’s Cancer Society.

“Bleed” was compiled and edited by author Lori Michelle this past year to raise money and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer after her own son was diagnosed with Leukemia.

The book was published in 2013 through Perpetual Motion Machine Publishing and is gaining favorable reviews from both critics and fans of the genre. All proceeds from the book’s revenue go directly to the National Children’s Cancer Society, and help families who are struggling with the effects of this terrible disease.

“Bleed” holds over 40 stories and personal essays donated by genre authors from across the country, including four from the state of Maine. This event will feature those four pieces read by their respective authors: “Mr. Expendable” by Peter N. Dudar; “The Rooster” by Glenn Rolfe; “Slippery Love” by April Hawks; and “The Call” by Rick Hautala. Hautala’s story will be read by his wife, Holly Newstein Hautala. Rick passed away in March of this past year after agreeing to donate his story to the project.

All four authors are members of the New England Horror Writers Association. Dudar, Hawks, and Rolfe are also members of the Wednesday Mayhem Writers Group, which convenes in Lisbon Falls to perfect and celebrate the craft of writing genre fiction.

“Bleed” is available at Amazon. A limited number of copies will be available for purchase at the event, but the authors suggest pre-purchasing the book to guarantee a signed copy. The event is free of charge and refreshments will be served.

The library is at 28 Main Street. In case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 22. For further information, call 207-353-6564.

Author bios:

Peter N. Dudar is the author of the Bram Stoker Award nominated book, “A Requiem for Dead Flies.” His latest books, “Dolly and Other Stories” and “The Angel of Death” continue to gain critical acclaim and high praise from fans of genre fiction. His short stories have appeared in numerous anthologies, including “Bell, Book and Beyond,” “Epitaphs: The Journal of the New England Horror Writers Association,” and most recently, “Nightscapes, Volume 1.” When not writing fiction, Dudar writes a film review column for CinemaKnifeFight.com and hosts a blog on WordPress.com called “Dead by Friday.” He lives in Lisbon Falls where he secretly dreams of being the next Stephen King.

Holly Newstein’s short fiction has appeared in Cemetery Dance Magazine and the anthologies “Borderlands 5,” “The New Dead,” “In Laymon’s Terms,” “Epitaphs: The Journal of the New England Horror Writers Association,” and “Evil Jester Digest Vol. 2.” Her collaboration with Rick Hautala, “Trapper Boy” will appear in the forthcoming “Dark Duets” anthology edited by Christopher Golden, and her story “Eight Minutes” will be part of “Anthology 2013,” from The Four Horsemen Press. She is the coauthor of the novels “Ashes” and “The Epicure” with Ralph W. Bieber, published originally under the pen name H.R.Howland. She lives in Maine with her fur kids, Keira and Remy.

Glenn Rolfe is an author from the haunted woods of New England. He has studied creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University, and continues his education in the world of horror by devouring the novels of Stephen King and Richard Laymon. He and his wife, Meghan, have two girls, Ruby, and Ramona, and a son, Axl. Glenn is happy to be loved despite his weirdness. He is currently working in his next project.

April Hawks writes from a small Maine town. Being a stay-at-home mom, she is a slush reader for Nightscape Press, where she has had the opportunity to work with several up-and-coming authors in the genre. Hawks is also a co-founder of the Wednesday Mayhem Writers Group in Lisbon Falls, where she works to perfect her craft of writing and helps to critique other authors. Her youngest son was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia in 2012. His progress can be followed on his Facebook page Thug Monkeys Unite