Cover illustration by Marc Vuletich. Title design by Alan Lastufka.

Melon Head Mayhem: A Novella

“A really fun and entertaining book… Ebenstein weaves a hectically bloody tale oozing with film grain and cheap practical effects… this collection is going to be hailed as the modern day Goosebumps for adults.”
Horror Obsessive

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Publication Date

July 11, 2023

Genres

,

Print Length

152 Pages

ISBN

978-1-959565-15-4 (Paperback)
978-1-959565-16-1 (eBook)

About Melon Head Mayhem

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 blood thirsty 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?

It’s a creature feature. It’s a throwback. It’s… MELON HEAD MAYHEM!

Praise

“A really fun and entertaining book… Ebenstein weaves a hectically bloody tale oozing with film grain and cheap practical effects… this collection is going to be hailed as the modern day Goosebumps for adults.”
Horror Obsessive

“Alex Ebenstein delivers a fun, pulse pounding love letter to urban legends and dusty VHS tapes with MELON HEAD MAYHEM. It’s pure creature feature goodness that will have you cheering until the very last frame page!”
—Joshua Hull, author of Mouth and screenwriter of Glorious

“In his superbly entertaining novella, Alex Ebenstein transports us to a world of VHS tapes and fast-paced B-movie fun, with a love for the genre that really shines through. With thrills, nostalgia, and a mystery to solve, B-movie fans will want to check out Melon Head Mayhem!”
—Antonia Rachel Ward, author of Attack of the Killer Tumbleweeds

“Melon Head Mayhem is perfect for B-horror movie fans. This novella is packed with unique monsters, glorious gore, and wacky fight scenes, while also featuring a heroic duo struggling to reconnect with the meaning of family and home. Alex Ebenstein delivers with a fast-paced and fun love letter to the days of VHS tapes that will make you pine for Blockbuster Video. Snatch this one off the shelf and hit play!”
—Angela Sylvaine, author of Frost Bite

Melon Head Mayhem News
August 31, 2023
We’re excited to announce that you can now read the entire first chapter of Candy Cain Kills, thanks to our friends over at Dread Central…
July 31, 2023
Laurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below, recently read an early copy of Alex Ebenstein‘s Melon Head Mayhem, the first entry in our new Killer VHS Series. She offered the following thoughts after reading…
July 27, 2023
Today we are excited to reveal the cover for Brian McAuley’s holiday slasher novella, Candy Cain Kills…
July 9, 2023
We’re excited to announce that Alex Ebenstein‘s Melon Head Mayhem, the first entry in our new Killer VHS Series, will be featured in Little Ghosts Books’ Subscription Book Box this month…
July 7, 2023
Angela Sylvaine, author of Front Bite, recently read an early copy of Alex Ebenstein‘s Melon Head Mayhem, the first entry in our new Killer VHS Series. She offered the following thoughts after reading…
July 5, 2023
Joshua Hull, author of Mouth and screenwriter of Glorious, recently read an early copy of Alex Ebenstein’s Melon Head Mayhem, the first entry in our new Killer VHS Series. He offered the following thoughts after reading…
June 22, 2023
Antonia Rachel Ward, author of Marionette and Attack of the Killer Tumbleweeds, recently read an early copy of Alex Ebenstein’s Melon Head Mayhem, the first entry in our new Killer VHS Series…
June 20, 2023
Horror Obsessive recently reviewed Alex Ebenstein’s Melon Head Mayhem, the first title in our new Killer VHS Series. The review not only praises Melon Head Mayhem and Alex’s work there, but also the potential for the series as a whole, saying…
May 26, 2023
Dread Central is hosting a very cool, exclusive cover reveal today… ours! The cover for Alex Ebenstein’s forthcoming novella, Melon Head Mayhem, was revealed this morning…
December 8, 2022
Today we are announcing the acquisition of a new novella by author Alex Ebenstein. Melon Head Mayhem will be published Summer 2023 as the first title in our upcoming Killer VHS Series…
About the Author

Alex Ebenstein is an author whose daytime mapmaking career supports his nighttime addiction of writing horror and other dark speculative fiction. He is also the founder and owner of Dread Stone Press, an independent small horror press. He is a lifelong Michigander, where he lives with his wife, son, and dog.

twitter.com/AlexEbenstein

About the Series

A series of books where movie monsters come to life and old VHS tapes summon long-buried evils. You’ll probably survive, as long as you remember to be kind and rewind.

View the Killer VHS Series.

Other Titles by Alex Ebenstein

No other titles found.