2021 Monday morning thoughts...
2020 was exciting for me as a writer as I released The Pope Lick Massacre and wrote several stories selected for inclusion in some pretty exciting anthologies. I'm looking to not only continue my momentum from 2020 but increase it as I eye more anthologies to target and to release some more self-published novels.
There are two types of people in Jefferson County: those who know the legend of the Pope Lick Monster and those who believe it. Before the night is over, Sam will have no choice but to join the believers. Since their mother’s death, Sam’s sole focus has been taking care of her younger brother, Kenny. Now Kenny’s Scout troop is missing, having never returned from the woods around Pope Lick. Sam gathers a group of friends to search for the boys and their Scoutmaster. With each step, they get closer to discovering the scouts aren’t the only ones in the woods this night. “The Pope Lick Massacre is a bold, brutal horror story that’ll remain in your mind long after you read it. This book is not for the faint of heart.” –Independent Book Review
The newest review is quick but says all you need to know...
Available in paperback and on Kindle: Click Here
This anthology will be available to order on January 13th, 2021. Red Cape Publishing has been working on this amazing 26 volume anthology. I have a story appearing in this volume. Order it for the Kindle here.
Another collection of flash fiction stories (250 words or less) I have a story in is available now to order in paperback or on the Kindle. Check it out here
Extreme Drabbles of Dread is a collection of bite-sized extreme horror stories.
This is an EXTREME horror collection and will push you to the edge of your limits. This is not for the faint of heart.
You have been warned.
Black Hare Press has a series of anthologies that focus on the 500-word story. I've had several stories picked up for these quick dark tales and they should begin coming out soon. I'll post links as soon as they are available.
I'm editing my 3rd novel right now and it's kinda taking forever. The plan is this novel will be part of a trilogy at the minimum, but I love the characters so much I can see myself writing more than that so we will just have to see.
Of course, I'm talking about The Ephraim Godwin Chronicles. The first book is tentatively titled Sins of the Past, but nothing is set in stone. While I have shared this story with you in the serial format, the novel will be different. That is part of the reason the editing is taking so long, I am rewriting sections to make the story more novel friendly. I'm hoping there will be enough new and exciting ideas to make it worth reading even if you were with me every week.
One of my favorite movies has popped up to stream on Amazon Prime. Clay Pigeons, directed by David Dobkin, not a name that people immediately know but he's very good. He's the director behind Wedding Crashers, Shanghai Knights, Fred Claus, and The Judge to name a few.
Side note - if you have Cinemax or Directv, stream the Judge. It's one of Robert Downey Jr's best performances.
The cast is amazing, many just starting to cut their teeth on meatier roles. Vince Vaughn is great.
Before I jump back to editing, I wanted to recommend another book. I got this for Christmas from the wife and it blew me away. This is a horror novel that doesn't rely on over the top violence or sex to grab your attention or horrify you. It just builds tension with every page.
Here is my review left on Goodreads
Honestly I wasn't sure what to expect with The Auctioneer. This is a part of the Paperbacks from Hell series, and the 1st one I read was nothing short of a complete disappointment. So I was hesitant to jump back in but I so want the series to work.
This book is incredible. The premise is really simple. A man shows up to a small town, he wins over the sheriff, and volunteers to run an auction to raise money for the police. The people of the town volunteer a few items, and the auction is a success. So much so, the sheriff comes by the next week looking for more items for another auction, and then they come the next week, each time looking for more.
The book focuses on a specific family: John, his wife, their 1 child, and ma. Everything moves through these people and their property. While the book starts off friendly enough, it doesn't take long for the tension to start. Once it starts, it never stops, instead growing with every page until you must know what is going to happen in hopes to get a break. The horror of this story is so understated, to the point that many might not even understand what is right there under their noses.
I was worried when I started that it might end up on my not-finished pile but I can say without hesitation it's one of the best books I've read in a long while. For sure the best one I've read in 2021.
You can find it here.