The Return of Bigfoot

I've started a new blog over at Wordpress.com that will be the home of my first serial novella called The Image In The Dark. The first chapter is now live and new chapters will follow every Friday. This isn't a sequel to Sticks and Stones but is a stand alone tale that follows a group of cryptozoologists who travel to the mountains of North Carolina to investigate sightings of the mysterious creature following a bloody rampage in the foothills. I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think! Click HERE to start reading it.

Some Other Time - Fun Facts

I always like to give fun facts along with anything that I write. Some Other Time is a zombie story with a slight twist (which I'm not giving away). It also has a romantic touch to it. A young man risking life and limb to reach the woman he

 loves. That part is kinda true. I am in the process of planning a trip to see that very woman and every penny made from the book gets me closer. The book itself is a metaphor of sorts to people who are in a long distance relationship. Now don't let that scare you off. There is no mushy Twilight feel. I assure you that the book is pure horror. There are also a few scenes that are very dark simply because they are from some very dark times in my life. For the first time ever, I was able to bring myself to the point where I could write about the car accident which nearly claimed my life. I was the sole survivor and that day has haunted me ever since. There were some other things as well that were difficult for me to dig back into and put on the page. I'm glad I did. Since then I have felt much better. 

The fire department in the book is based on my department, Green River Fire and Rescue. I wanted to give them a shout out, especially since they helped save my life. 

If you are from or have ever been to Hendersonville NC, you will probably notice several familiar places along the busy bend of Kanuga like IQ Tattoo and Hot Dog World.

One final thing...you can blame Sandy Shelonchik for eating the last stray peanut.

That being said, I hope you will give this one a try. It is now out on Kindle and paperback and should help fill your need for zombies after Halloween (or during if you have a kindle).

 Paperback or Kindle

Some Other Time - A Zombie Novella OUT NOW!

I am very proud of this book. Like Sticks and Stones, this book was a trip into some dark places to exorcise some old demons that have haunted me for a long time. It was also a way to help me through something new. Though this book put me through an emotional Hell in many ways -the worst being reliving the accident that nearly killed me- it has helped me more than any other. 

This book would've never been possible without the support of many people during its writing. Most importantly, my inspiration, Christine Masters. 

I also wish to send a special thank you to my editor, who did a fantastic job, Sandy Shelonchik. Sandy lives in New York -with fellow horror author David Bernstein- and is dealing with the massive hurricane at the moment. I ask all of you to keep them and everyone else in this storm's path in your well wishes.

If you are dealing with Hurricane Sandy yourself, please stay safe!

It's easy to give up when you're watching the world of all that you've ever known die right in front of your eyes. Chris is no stranger to death. He's felt the cold fingers of the Reaper before. Now he faces it once again as the dead rise to claim the world as the new rulers. 

It's easy to give up... but Chris still has something worth fighting for. Something worth traversing a Kingdom of the Dead to reach. With the aid of two strangers and a mysterious young girl with a dog, Chris sets out to save the person who means the most to him - his world.

Giving up is not an option.

It's time to fight.

On sale NOW! Get your PAPERBACK or KINDLE EDITION

THE LOVERS by CHRISTINE MASTERS

I just wanted to take a moment to share something from my beautiful lady.

AS THE NIGHT'S SONG PLAYS

IT'S SYMPHONY TO THE STARS 

AND THE MOON SHINES FULL

THE LOVERS DANCE 

THROUGH THE GARDEN OF DESIRE

TWO SOULS TRANSCENDING INTO ONE.

New Interview from Rebecca Besser

I recently got to sit down and answer a few questions from a very talented voice in horror -  Undead Drive-Thru author, Rebecca Besser. There will be more authors featured in the "Wild Week" interviews in celebration of the release of Zombies Gone Wild. Keep your eyes peeled (or something may peel them for you). 

Click HERE to see it now!

Lots of New Stuff

Got some new stuff that has just been released and some more on the way. Been a busy month!
First up is news on Some Other Time - it is in the hands of the editor and I am hearing some really great feedback. As soon as my edits are done it will be hitting paperback and Kindle. It will also have two bonus short stories (Birthday Wish and In The Walls).

I will have a poem called Threnody in the upcoming Rhonny Reaper release - Poetry From The Grave. It will be the first poem I've had published  in about twelve years. I'm pretty excited about this one! It contains the first published work from by beautiful lady, Christine Masters. I'm very proud of her!

I have also started work on a ghost story that I've wanted to do for a while. There has always been this creepy little guy that I've drawn whenever I get bored. I've always wanted to build a story around him and now I think I have what I've been looking for. I'll have details on that as soon as I can.

Below are two new anthology releases that I'm very excited and very proud of. Lots of good authors within these pages. I hope you'll check 'em out and enjoy them. Lots of big names mixed with some new voices (including the first published work by my editor, Sandy).




Zombies Gone Wild



Death is not the end…

“Zombies Gone Wild!” is a chilling collection of twenty-six stories from established authors as well as up-and-coming writers in the genre, with an opening poem from everyone’s favorite zombie. This anthology includes tales where the undead stand as a symbol of unification for a desperate world, where friends really are what you make them, and where new beginnings aren’t always a good thing.

The end is only the beginning…

Bizarre, humorous, and terrifying, “Zombies Gone Wild!” will satiate your hunger for zombie goodness.

WITH STORIES FROM:
Patrick D’Orazio, S.P. Durnin, Rebecca Besser, C. D. Carter, Nicholas Conley, Adam Millard, and many more!

“The title doesn't lie, folks. This is a helluva ride.”
C. Dulaney, author of the Roads Less Traveled trilogy

Click HERE to get it now!


Little Stories for the Smallest Room

'200 drabbles by 77 authors all in one place
for your reading pleasure, and all in a nice 
compact book that fits in the hand for 
when you visit the smallest room.

Enjoy'

AUTHOR LIST
This is a full alphabetical by first name list of all 77 authors who contributed to the 200 stories found within these pages, take a few moments to scan the list and search out their work I am sure you will agree each one has provided us with a wealth of entertainment.

Adam Millard
Adnane Rehane
Allen Jacoby
Amanda Perry 
Anastasia Wraight
Andrew Freudenberg
Andrew Stockton
Aurelio Rico Lopez III
Benjamin Rogers
Ben Shires
Brent Abell
C. Topher Gadomski
Caid Rhymes
Cayleigh Hickey
Charlie Morgan
Chip Fehd
Chris Hugh
Christina Hugh
Dale Eldon
Dan Howarth
Darren Baker
Darren Barker
Darren Woon
David Lightfoot
David Moody
David Naughton-Shires
David Thomas
Diane Arrelle
Douglas Vance Castagna
Eliyanna Kaiser
Eric J. Guignard
Garrett Cook
Geoffery Crescent
Howard Mosley-Chalk
J.F. Wagner
J. Rodimus Fowler
Jacob Edwards
Jamie Freeman
Jay Faulkner
Jeremy Peterson
Jeremy L. Mahan
John H. Dromey
Josh Naughton-Shires
Joshua Skye
Katy-Rose Hötker
Kevin Walsh
Kim Krodel
Kristal Stittle
Lance Shoeman
Laura Ann Via
Lee Widener
M.D. Wilson
Mari Mitchell
Matt Darst
Matt Kurtz
Matt Nord
Maurice Vaughan
Michael Bondies
Michael C. Dick
Michael S Gardner
Monique Snyman
Nathan Barnes
Nathalie Boisard-Beudin
Nicky Peacock.
Paul S Huggins
Peter Bailey
R. S. Pyne
RafalKuleta
Rebecca Besser
Rebecca Snow
Richard Barnes
Rod Nojek
Rycke Foreman
S.J.Caunt
Sandy Shelonchik
Sean Logan
Sean M. Thompson
Sharla Anderson
Shawn M. Riddle
Sheri White
Stacey Jaine McIntosh
Steve K Cole
Suzanne Robb
Tonia Brown
Teresa J Gibson
Trevor Smith
Theresa Derwin
Victor M. Beas

Click HERE to get it now!

New Zombie Novelette on the Way

A while back I announced that there would be another story that takes places within the world of Birthday Wish. I'm pleased to say that things are moving along smoothly and if all goes well it will be out later this month. As with Sticks And Stones, this is a very personal story for me to write and does mirror many of the things that are floating around in my life. The story will be available on Kindle and I'm seriously considering publishing it as a paperback chapbook if there is enough interest. 

Synopsis:

It's easy to give up when you're watching the world of all that you've ever known die right in front of your eyes. Chris is no stranger to death. He's felt the cold fingers of the Reaper before. Now he faces it once again as the dead rise to claim the world as the new rulers. 

It's easy to give up... but Chris still has something worth fighting for. Something worth traversing a Kingdom of the Dead to reach. With the aid of two strangers and a mysterious young girl with a dog, Chris sets out to save the person who means the most to him - his world.

Giving up is not an option.

It's time to fight.

The Beast of Boggy Creek by Lyle Blackburn - Review

Hi there, folks! I know its been a while since I've posted but rest assured, I have a treat for you today!

I was pointed toward Lyle Blackburn by "Bigfoot War" author, Eric S. Brown. Not only is Lyle an accomplished singer for the rock band Ghoultown, he is also one of my new favorite authors who shares a passion for the field of Cryptozoology (the study of hidden animals). I was thrilled when I heard the Lyle was going to be writing a book about the south's most famous Bigfoot-type creatures, The Fouke Monster!

The Fouke Monster hit superstar status in the world of cryptids with the documentary style horror classic, The Legend of Boggy Creek. The film has went on to inspire generations of fans, curious minds and monster hunters. I can't even begin to tell you the impact that the film had on me! But the whole story had never been told. The film did a superb job with giving you just enough information to make you hungry for more.

Enter Lyle Blackburn.

The Beast of Boggy Creek is basically a biography of the legendary creature and of the sleepy town of Fouke (pronounced Fowk) Arkansas. What follows within these pages is one of the most interesting reads that I've had the pleasure to crack open in a long time. It's highly informative and covers pretty much anything and everything you could think of. There is even a breakdown of the Boggy Creek films in which the author carefully separates fact from fiction. He goes into detail of some of the earliest known reports, all the way up to some of the most recent. 

This book is a true treasure for many people. If you are a fan of the movie, then this book is required! If you are interested in the field of cryptozoology, this book is required! It could even be a fantastic piece for fans of drive-in era horror films as it gives an inside look at how the film came to be made and distributed and rose to cult status.

I can't recommend this book enough. It was worth every penny for the wealth of information that was provided and the history of another time. Buy this book! You will NOT be disappointed!

Click HERE to get it now!

Carcass 2 is HERE!

A storm is coming. A dark cloud hovers over the town of Oakdale as Ervin Dennison continues his search for his daughter. An ancient evil lurks within the forest... hunting the hunter. Soon Ervin will encounter something more dangerous than he could've ever expected.

The thrilling, long awaited, conclusion to the Carcass story. Prepare for battle! Hell is coming.

Click HERE to get it now!

David Moody returns with the re-issue of Trust!

Hey, folks! David Moody has an awesome new book out. It's a re-release of one of his early books and Trust me, this thing is AWESOME!


For U.S. Shoppers:
http://www.amazon.com/Trust-ebook/dp/B008NYD00C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344968890&sr=8-3&keywords=trust+david+moody
http://www.amazon.com/Trust-ebook/dp/B008NYD00C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1344968890&sr=8-3&keywords=trust+david+moody

For UK Shoppers:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-ebook/dp/B008NYD00C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344968978&sr=8-2
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trust-David-Moody/dp/0955005183/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344968978&sr=8-1

For ALL Shoppers:
http://www.infectedbooks.co.uk/limited.htm
http://www.infectedbooks.co.uk/Signed.htm

Ghosts of Memory - a poem

Violent flashes of my screams

Of the demons ripping from my dreams

I will not hold back

It's time to go

To face the ghosts of long ago

Twenty three days awaiting me

Coming forth to try and take away

All that I've done and all I'll ever be

The road winds on like a serpent in coil

It's venom eating at my soul

I try to forget but it returns ten fold

Everyday I wait for the bell to toll

It's time to stand up

and face my fate alone

Violent flashes of my screams

Of the demons ripping from my dreams

I will not hold back

It's time to show the ghosts I'm not a broken soul

The dreams, they come like a thief in the night

Raging from the past and looking for a fight

Stand or fall, I'll give it all my might

Violent flashes of what's lost

Of the light that was taken

It was the cost

I will not hold back these tears

They fall

These Ghosts of Memory

Show me all there is to see

I condemn you for what you caused

Goddamn you for all that I saw

You took my life and fled away

I hereby command that you will not win this day

Welcome to the Land of the Dead

Where no prayer can save your head

Come and collect what is due

in the Hell that I have made for you

5 am Surprise

 I can honestly say that I was floored this morning. It had been a long night without any sign of sleep. I busied myself with my usual round of insomnia fueled adventures (browsing YouTube for new music, lessons on how to play instruments that I don't even own, pranks, fart jokes, etc). Then it was on to Facebook to see what was going on in the world of my friends... then I saw something.

If you look at the top, left portion of this page, you will see a banner of an angry looking chap by the name of David Moody. Clicking on this picture will take you to a Facebook group called Moody's Survivors. Within this group are fans and authors. Many of the authors are up-and-comers while many are also some of today's heavy hitters of the horror genre. This all boils down to an event called “The Survivor Awards.” As I checked the results to see how my picks did, I saw my name on the list. Best Horror Novella: Sticks And Stones by Charlie Morgan. I had to check and make damn sure that I wasn't asleep.

This means a great deal to me because of what I said earlier. The group is filled with fans and authors. Many of the authors are part of the reason that I write these things to begin with. Sticks And Stones was voted on by the readers. The very people that I do this for. And that, my friends, makes it all worth it.

In closing, let me just say this to the fine folks at Moody's, thank you so much. I'm glad you enjoyed it and helped me turn a very dark portion of my life into something positive.

You can view all of the results by clicking HERE.

Lakewood, North Carolina: Fun Facts

The setting of the sleepy village of Lakewood appears in most of my stories. I figured I'd take the time to point some fun stuff out.

First and foremost, Lakewood is a real place... well, sort of. I live in a little inkblot on the map called Tuxedo, North Carolina. It's right on the state line with South Carolina and is bordered by the Greenville Watershed. Originally, Tuxedo was called Lakewood. I really liked the name and figured it would be the ideal setting for the horrors that have played out in my stories. Lake Summit rests in the center (I also took it's original name -Lake Edith- and used it as well). Like when you have a dream. When familiar locations pop up in a dream, you know exactly where it is and all the details even though the dreamworld tends to take on different forms. Lakewood is the Tuxedo of my nightmares... and I have plenty of those.

The Lowe Road is real too and is pretty much exactly how it sounds in the stories. It's mostly a long, winding, dirt road and has many old buildings scattered about. Now it's mostly paved and housing developments are filling space. The actual name of the road is Pinnacle Mountain Road. I renamed it Lowe Road after the character Rev. Lester Lowe from Stephen King's Cycle of the Werewolf.

Birthday Wish was written for my little buddy. My nephew Dakota. I don't have children and he was pretty much the closest I've ever had. My wife and I pretty much raised him for the first two years of his life. He's a sweet boy and all around goofball (just like uncle Charlie). We spoiled the shit out of him. Sadly, I don't see him much since the split.

Just In Sight came about during a trip to town during a snowstorm. We were on a, somewhat, isolated road and I began wondering what would happen if we hit the ditch. That story was also inspired by my wife at the time and was dedicated to her and my nephew Dakota.

Later on, she would again inspire another story... Sticks and Stones. It was during the beginning of our separation and I had a lot of frustrations to let out (and believe me... I let 'em out to play!). The story would later become my first Best-Seller. So in an odd way, I suppose I should thank her for that one.

Now, onto another reader favorite. Carcass is actually based on a true story of sorts. During the 1960's, at the very farm I am sitting at now, my great-grandfather came home and found his family in fear of something that had been lurking around outside. It made strange sounds and had frightened them to the very core. He laughed at them. To prove his point, that there was nothing to fear, he walked outside into the night without a gun and tried to find what had startled them. He made it to an old apple tree where he sat and listened to something moving around the field. He could hear the sounds and, according to him, it sounded as if it had been circling him. He made it back to the house and apologized for making fun of the family. It turns out, there were other people who lived around here who had spoke of similar incidents that occurred around the same time. To my knowledge, nobody has ever figured out what it was that had passed through that night. I will say that it wasn't the last time it happened. It comes through every year.

All of these stories can be found in my newest paperback collection. You can get your copy by clicking HERE. Also be sure to have a look at the "Letters from the Author" section in the back of the book for a piece called "The Legend of the Mountain Devils" for more details on the real-life spooky events that inspired some of these tales.

I hope you've enjoyed this and come back soon. Tell your friends, enemies, pets and victims to swing by as well.

My First Paperback Collection Is Now Available!

Vampires, deranged killers, ancient creatures and more await within the pages of CAMPFIRES; a collection of tales from Amazon.com Best-Selling Author, Charlie Morgan.

Includes Sticks And Stones and other tales that see print for the first time ever. Sit down, relax and hold your machete tight. It's gonna be a Hell of a night!"Sticks and Stones is slick Gothic pulp that is fun and goes down smooth. It plays a little like an episode of "Tales From The Crypt". Charlie Morgan is someone you should keep your eye on. His prose is clear, vivid and he captures the drudgery of small town life quite nicely. The violence, while brief, is savage and fitting. I look forward to more of Charlie's stuff."- Chip Fehd BuyZombie.com review of STICKS AND STONES"If Eric Brown and Brian Keene had a baby with Richard Laymons face on it!"

It contains all of my Kindle stories and a few others.

You can get it now by clicking HERE

World Premiere Movie: The Un-Godly!

Hahahaaaa!

I was digging through some old DVDs today and came across something I haven't seen since we made it. It remained unedited and raw for all this time. Myself and a few friends got together and decided to make a movie. We even went as far as bringing in a professional actress named Michelle Lamelza (PS Michelle, I'm sorry this flopped! You are a fantastic actress and I'm sorry we made you come all the way up here for this.)

Anyway, the idea was to send the completed "film" to a festival. That didn't happen. The sound was terrible. The lighting was terrible. The acting (with some exceptions) was terrible... But just for fun, here's the completed film; viewed for the first time ever by a willing audience. It's Insane, It's Bloody, It's Un-Godly. It sucks! Haha!

Them Or Us by David Moody Review

It's all there; the paranoia, the suspense, the destruction and the violence. Everything that made the Hater trilogy the powerhouse that it's became. I finished this book at 3 am this morning; determined to see how it all ended. It all boils down to a thrilling and fitting climax with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
Hater was my introduction to the works of David Moody. I learned of it from a promising review from Fangoria magazine. Since then, so much has happened. I became a member of the Facebook group "Moody's Survivors", a group of authors and fans who gather to discuss Moody's work and anything else (if you enjoy David's work, please feel free to drop by). Strange how a series of hate and taking sides can bring so many people close together.
I have to say that I was saddened as I closed the book that last time, as Danny McCoyne's journey came to it's end. I highly recommend this book and anything else by Mr. Moody. I can't wait to see what he cooks up next.


Check out the series now!
Hater
Dog Blood Hater book 2
Them Or Us Hater book 3

Also be sure to have a look at his zombie apocalypse series Autumn!

Autumn
Autumn: The City book 2
Autumn: Purification book 3
Autumn: Disintegration book 4
Autumn: Aftermath book 5

Also be sure to check out his latest effort TRUST. See an alien invasion through the eyes of this master.

Carcass II: Bloodstorm Sample

SAMPLE

Thunder tore apart the heavens with increasing fury as the rain fell and the earth blackened. Another boom and the ground quaked as if a mighty giant sought freedom from it's subterranean bonds. It seemed that God himself were trying to destroy the world ahead of schedule. That would be a much more merciful fate than the one Ervin Dennison hunted.

The only constant light belonged to the village of Oakdale as it was consumed by flames in the distance. Screams were carried along the wind but were snuffed out by the growing storm. It didn't matter;  by the time the cries reached Ervin's ears, the source was already dead.

It had only been two days since the creatures made their presence known. Two days since one had slaughtered his wife and abducted his daughter.

A hint of smoke drifted past and crept into his nostril. Diluted as it was, he could still detect the scent of charred flesh. Ervin tightened his grip on the sharpened chair leg. It seemed to be the only useful weapon he carried. Bury the wooden spike into their chest and they go down. Bullets only angered them. Still, Ervin pressed on with a rifle hanging over his shoulder; a single shell resting in the chamber.

Tik-tik

Ervin stopped in his tracks and waited, half hoping to hear the sound again. It was hard to tell in the rain. His eyes and ears had been playing tricks on him for quite a while. Every tree bore their abominal faces and every sound, that horrid noise.

Tik-tik

A flash of lightning revealed the beast. It squatted on the outstretched limb of a Black Walnut tree; eating the throat out of a young man. It was the first time Ervin had seen one since that first night. It was almost exactly as he remembered. On the second flash, the creature lifted it's head and sniffed at the air; it's long, stringy hair hiding it's face. A third flash, it's hollow eyes were locked onto Ervin's.

The Power of Music - Random Rant #?

Sully Erna (Godsmack) once wrote, "Music is truly a miracle. It is one of the great wonders of life that has been gifted to us by the universe. The fact is, music enhances our good times and helps us through our bad times and it never asks anything of us in return."

I couldn't possibly agree more. I will, however, go a bit further and say that music is a very simple yet extremely potent form of magic.

Why?

Well, it's because music is much more than background noise. The right song, at the right moment can do so much to a person on many levels. Think about a time when you've been feeling down and just sat down and listened to something that completely blew you away. It hit the right spots and danced on the right nerves and left you feeling better, perhaps even empowered. Many soldiers have said that before going into battle that they will listen to something to get the blood flowing and to keep them cool under pressure. It helps with their focus.

Now, you may be wondering just what the hell this has to do with a horror fiction blog. The answer is, quite a bit. Think about the characters you are writing. The setting. Music can serve in making the scenes much more powerful and help you focus on the emotions you're trying to express.

Now, I know some people don't like to listen to anything while they write. To each their own. Perhaps try a little before you begin your session. Maybe take a five minute break and see what happens. If the lyrics are getting in the way then some instrumentals may do the trick.

During the time I was writing Carcass, I had Sully's Avalon album playing. For Sticks And Stones, it was Disturbed's The Lost Children. Birthday Wish was anything Type O Negative etc.

Lately, I've been listening to Nightwish... a lot. It's really bringing some thing to life!

What do you have playing when you write? If anything at all. Feel free to comment here or on Facebook.

The Long Road to Carcass 2

It's been over a year since my vampire story Carcass was published. Since then there have been plans for a sequel and none of them seemed to take off. There have been several attempts at bringing Ervin Dennison back to the page and continue his search for his daughter. But they just didn't feel right. The characters were there and some scares but the feel was wrong. It just didn't seem to fit as a companion to the original.

I didn't want to rattle off just another story to finish things off. I wanted this one to be done right and surpass the original. My idea with the first outing was to make vampires scary again and give people nightmares. I wanted part two to do all of that and much more.

Finally, after all of this time, it's coming very soon. The characters, the monsters, the scares and all things that make the old school vampires wicked as hell. No sparkles!

Loosely based on the Aswang creature of the Philippines, Carcass: Bloodstorm picks up two days after the siege of Ervin Dennison's farm. As he continues to search for his missing child, he discovers the origin of the beasts and something much more dangerous than he ever expected.

An illustration of the Aswang

The book trailer

I'll have a free sample up soon. Until then, if you haven't read the original yet, you can get it HERE. For the time being, it's FREE. But hurry, July 4, 2012 is the last day!

Cool Discovery in the Yard.

 I know it's unrelated but it's my page and I liked this. 
This was really cool!
Look what I found in my yard. She's just a pet. I walked right up to her and got within 6 feet. Then someone drove by and it scared her off.


PS... If anyone hurts her... I may hurt them.

How it all went down.

AKA goofing around on Facebook.

Texas Killing Fields review

I don't review too many movies on here but every once in a while, one comes along that I need to spread the word about. In today's case, it's Texas Killing Fields. The film is inspired by true events and at times has the feel of Town That Dreaded Sundown or Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. The entire cast does a superb job with portraying the gritty and haunting events that unfold. All in all it's a dark, suspenseful film that is worth a view! 

New Free Story and Other News

Hi, guys. Just wanted to let you know that I've worked up a page just for freebies. You'll find "Halloween on the Lowe Road," "Skitter" and a new story called "The Swap." I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think.

Also let me know if there's any bugs with it.

I've also been working on a nasty little tale for an upcoming anthology from Knightwatch Press called "Pariahs: Harbingers of the Apocalypse." I'm trying some new things with the characters and the setting. This will be my first story with a setting outside of the US.

So far, I'm having a lot of fun with it. I hope it makes the cut. Wish me luck!

In other news, above is the updated cover for "Zombies Gone Wild."

I think it looks pretty cool and can't wait to get my hands on it. The official table of contents hasn't been released just yet but I know there are some great authors in the mix. I've also been told by one of the editors that there will be something very cool added to it. Not sure what it is but I'm excited already.

On that note, I'm ready for some sleep. Happy Summer Solstice, everyone!

For Laureif

Here's something else that I wanted to toss out there. For a special someone. }:-)~


Whispers flow on the mid-summer wind
Over the hills and around the bend
My words escape to the light of day
The ears they seek, so far away

Echoes travel swift
To deliver this small gift
You mean more than words can say
Thinking of you, forever and a day

Random Insomnia Fueled Rant

Just before the ass crack of dawn, I was sitting in bed watching The Hitcher (the original with Rutger Hauer and C. Thomas Howell - aka the best one) and trying to come up with an idea for an upcoming anthology. Some seemed to show promise while the rest should be swimming with the toilet fish.

A thought popped into my head. It was a question that I've been asked several times and for whatever reason (most likely insomnia/boredom) I decided to answer it here with you fine folks.

How did you get into writing?

Well, the answer is quite simple. It started out as me wanting to write scripts and do indie films. That didn't quite happen (at least not yet). Still, I kept writing and eventually moved away from short scripts and into short stories. I love writing these spooky little tales and I don't see myself stopping anytime soon. But each time I write something, I have that little urge floating among the cobwebs in the back of my brain. "How would this look on camera?"

I've a couple of people tell me that they would like to see some of my stuff adapted. Hell, I would too!

If the right offer should come along, I would seriously consider it and I can honestly say that it wouldn't be a money thing (too much). It would be more of a "crossing a big ticket item off the bucket list before I croak," type thing.

What can I say? Everyone has those dreams that aim high. I've had several. I finally got to reach a couple (and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for that). Who knows? Maybe this one will too. We'll just have to wait and see.

Paperbacks Are Coming (First Images)

I've been talking about paperback editions for a while and now some of them are starting to take shape. Below is the cover for Sticks And Stones: The Complete Series which will contain Just In Sight, Sticks 1, 2 & 3 plus some short stories.

I'm also working with Knightwatch Press to do another collection, plus a few more are on the way.

The Harbingers are coming.

I just got word today that my mean little shits with a Napoleon Complex (zombified yard Gnomes) short story "The Harbingers" will be appearing in the upcoming anthology Zombies Gone Wild. edited by Michael S. Gardner and Matt Nord. 

This is the first anthology I've submitted to in a while. I must say that it felt pretty good and it got some juices flowing again. I may seek out more.

Anyway, I'd also like to wish everyone a safe and happy Memorial Day!

Good Ol' Days part 2... I think.

It seems from some of these posts that I'm becoming an old fart before my time. I can remember going into bookstores (especially used paperback stores) and snooping through the horror section. I love the old mass market horror covers. They just had something special about them. If you think back to Robert R. McCammon's Swan Song, They Thirst, Stinger etc. You know what I mean. They were eye catching and exciting. (Deadite Press is doing an awesome job with their stuff. Plus it helps that the books kick ass too.)

When I publish something I usually do my own covers and I try to do my best to have a similar effect. But it just didn't feel the same. As many of you know, I love the 70's and 80's and many of the covers I speak of came from this era.

When I get bored, I work on designing random crap. Tonight, I came up with an idea for retro covers that are a throwback to the things of this rant. I'm happy to say that there is a story to go along with this. It will be a part of my cleverly titled "eBook Nightmare Vintage Collection." I'm not sure when it'll be ready for publication but I'll do my best to make it quick.

Minor Phone Flub

As you can see, the previous post didn't go quite as planned. Still getting used to posting with my phone, plus it's some-damn-unholy-hour-in-the-morning o'clock.

Oh well, you guys can figure it out.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Mini Tour

The fictional town of Lakewood has been in most of my stories. It is actually based on the actual village of Tuxedo, North Carolina. Lakewood was the original name (and Lake Summit's original name was Lake Edith) so I decided to keep it and fill it with my own little psychotic visions.

So, I figured I'd share a few images that have inspired some new stuff that will be heading down the line in the future.

Below is a view from "Table Rock." It's just inside the Greenville County line in SC.

Table Rock 2

Table Rock 3

Here is a view from a fan-freaking-tastic location called "World's Edge." If you're ever in my area of North Carolina and you like the outdoors, you have to check this place out.

Also in this shot, is David Edney (left) who is a fantastic photographer (and all around jack of all trades) who will be doing some work for me in the near future.A view from World's Edge.I will say that World's Edge will be featured as one of the main locations in Sticks And Stones 2 & 3.

World's Edge 2

World's Edge 3

That's all I have for now. I hope you enjoyed the pictures. I'll post some more little tours later and some videos.