The debut issue of Shock Totem: Curious Tales of the Macabre and Twisted, a digest-sized magazine of fiction and nonfiction, was first published in July 2009.

Notable authors to appear in Shock Totem are Jack Ketchum, John Skipp, Kevin J. Anderson, William F. Nolan, Don D'Ammassa, David Niall Wilson, Kurt Newton, Rennie Sparks (of The Handsome Family), Darrell Schweitzer, Cody Goodfellow, Brian Hodge, Jeremy Wagner (of Broken Hope), John Dixon, Tim Waggoner, Violet LeVoit, Weston Ochse, Ari Marmell, Lee Thomas, John Langan, Stephen Graham Jones, Josh Malerman.

Originally meant to be a monthly e-zine, the decision was made to publish a bi-annual print digest in early 2009.

In late 2011, Shock Totem came full circle and entered the digital realm by making available each issue as e-books.

Shock Totem: Curious Tales of the Macabre and Twisted #1 Bookgasm, September 2009 2.

Shock Totem 1: Curious Tales of the Macabre and Twisted - Summer 2009 The Future Fire, July 2009 6.