Born from the underground zine scene of 2011, Tales of Blood and Roses carved its name in the indie publishing world with three critically acclaimed issues. Now, after more than a decade of silence, the darkness returns. Since we've joined BakerKit's Zinetopia 2026, which focuses on gaming, the fourth issue will explore the theme of Dangerous Games—stories where the stakes are mortal, and the rules are written in blood.

The issue will feature a story by acclaimed author Kevin David Anderson, and an interview with author/editor John Gregory Betancourt who're joining in on the dark fun along with our other twisted ToBaR authors and artists. Find yourself in a world where a Dungeon Master can change reality with a roll of his dice, and another where a gardening competition turns deadly. At more than 100 pages, there's bound to be some surprises. Come on and play, you know you want to.

Our Submission Call is open through June 30, 2026, but some players are already joining in the fun with art, poetry, prose, or puzzles.

Featuring
Kevin David Anderson
and an interview with
John Gregory Betancourt
alongside
AMS
Becky Urban
Darkman
E. Doyle-Gillespie
Earl Crown
The Enigmatic MZ
Fernando Quijano III (The Word Pimp)
Ghastly
Godwin Obaji
Jeffrey L. Shipley
Jordan Wells
Lux Kane
Nasta Martyn
Piper Simons
Sarah Robbins
Shirley Smothers
Scott P. Odle
Wesley Olson

Backers may opt to be recognized on our Supporter Page.

For more, visit:
www.TalesofBloodandRoses.com
https:/www.UnpopularPublications.com

This issue includes contributions from two critically acclaimed authors whose writing has deeply influenced us. Seeing their voices alongside emerging and independent writers is exactly why this zine exists—and we’re genuinely excited (and a little stunned) to share what they’ve contributed.

Kevin David Anderson is a novelist and short story writer living in Southern California. His novels include the geeky cult classic Night of the Living Trekkies, and Night of the ZomBEEs. His collections include Midnight Men: The Supernatural Adventures of Earl and Dale, and Night Sounds: From Podcast to Print. Anderson’s short stories have appeared in more than fifty anthologies, thirty magazines, and award-winning horror podcasts such as Pseudopod and the NoSleep Podcast. Anderson’s latest novel, Try Not To Die in Roswell and Beyond, is book twenty in the popular TNTD choose-your-own-adventure book series. Anderson also writes genre-themed joke books under the pen name Giggles A. Lott & Nee Slapper, including Star Wars: The Jokes Awaken, and Jurassic Jokes: A Joke Book 5 Million Years in the Making.

John Gregory Betancourt is a writer of science fiction, fantasy and mystery novels as well as short stories. He's been an assistant editor at Amazing Stories and has edited Horror: The Newsmagazine of the Horror Field, Weird Tales, H. P. Lovecraft's Magazine of Horror, Cat Tales, and Adventure Tales magazines. He is the writer of four Star Trek novels, a Chronicles of Amber prequel series, an ongoing The Things from Another World trilogy, and a dozen other original novels. His essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in such diverse publications as Writer's Digest, The Washington Post, and Amazing Stories. 

"I hope they get to keep publishing this for the rest of their lives...and beyond!"
~ Jake Austen, ROCKTOBER MAGAZINE

"[A] zine to set the brains of horror fans on fire...62 pages packed full with poetry, prose, art, pics, and cartoons loosely based around hallmarks of this genre, all delivered with exceptional post-normal bleeding-edge quality."
~ Zack Kopp, THE EXAMINER

"I do always enjoy good writing, which this zine provides."
~ Eric Lyden, XEROGRAPHY DEBT

"[A]n erotic/horror/goth version of Reader's Digest"
~ Andy Conway, RAZORCAKE

" [Y]ou're not going to find a collection of work this diverse, interesting, and thought-provoking anywhere else."
~ Slade Grayson, BOOKGASM

"Tales' maiden issue flexes plenty of literati muscle."
~ Jerard Fagerberg, THE BALTIMORE CITY PAPER

Created as an homage to the great pulp magazines of the early 20th century, Unpopular Publications strives to publish the weird and the sublime.

US Shipping is included with all physical copies.
International Shipping (as noted) is available as an add-on.
PDF Copies expected early August 2026.
Physical copies are expected to mail out mid-August.
Other Digital Media should mail out around mid-September.

Go to www.TalesofBloodandRoses.com -or- https:/www.UnpopularPublications.com for further information.

$3,200
Funding at this level will allow us to present a small payment to our staff and contributors in appreciation of their work. This may also enrich the project by attracting additional contributors.

$3,900
3" x 5" color sticker featuring Tales of Blood and Roses: Dangerous Games (issue no. 4) wrap-around cover art - included free with every physical purchase.

$4,700
Original Signed Darkman cartoon sticker -included free with every physical purchase.

$7,500
Secured funding for a new TBD zine project. Zine will be made available to all ToBaR no. 4 backers at a discounted price.

$12,500
Going to a place we don't really expect or dare to...If we unbelievably were to reach this level of funding, Unpopular Productions (see what we're doing here) will produce an amateur theatrical anthology featuring at least two stories ripped from the pages of ToBaR no. 4. We'll try to get as many ToBaR creators involved as possible. We will also provide a digital copy of the performance to every single backer.