Today’s author made his debut at Bad Moon Rising last year with his horror novella, Reaper. If you’re not afraid of basements, his novella proves why you should steer clear of them. I was so excited to be an early reader for the sci-fi horror short story he’s featuring today. Cerebral uploading is nothing to sneeze at people – guard your brains. Welcome Jonathan Pongratz!
Has a movie or book scared you so much you couldn’t sleep? Which one?
Yes! The Descent rocked me to my core when I first watched it, and I was terrified of those sharp-toothed, cave-dwelling monsters coming to get me. To this day it still gives me goosebumps, but at least I can get a night’s rest after watching it.
Would you rather use a Ouija board or participate in a séance?
You know, I’ve tried a Ouija board before without results, so let’s go for the seance. I feel that a seance is a bit more intimate, and with the right medium maybe I could speak with my grandma and famous deceased authors from the past like Ursula K. Le Guin or Edgar Allen Poe.
If you were in a horror movie, would you rather have a loaded gun or a car that wouldn’t break down?
Such a tough choice! I would take the loaded gun. While a car that wouldn’t break down seems ideal, if a serial killer gets in there with you it’s game over. I’m a super fast runner thanks to my gazelle legs, so that paired with a gun would definitely ensure my safety. Plus, if you run out of bullets, it’s still a blunt object you can use. I’ve obviously had a lot of time to think of scenarios like this, haha!
Do you write to music?
Almost always. I am a huge fan of ambient music (music without words) and the soundscapes they create. I love nature sounds like forests, rainstorms, and blizzards, but it all depends on what I’m writing. Right now I’m listening more to soft scifi ambient music for my current project.
Which comes first for you – plot or characters?
Technically plot, but characters are a part of that. I’m huge on plotting before I even get close to writing the actual story. The physical surroundings, characters, and plot points have to develop to a certain level before I’m satisfied and ready to dive in.
What are you working on now?
The second Conscience had all its ducks in a row, I didn’t waste a moment before switching back to my Reaper sequel. This time around the horror has taken on a much more scifi-oriented theme, and I’m loving every minute of it.
What crazy adventures lie ahead for Gregory, Trent, and his mom? Only time will tell!
Rory Bennels lives in a world ruled by a business entity known as the Corporation. For years he’s executed cerebral uploads for the recently deceased, but when the famed anarchist Epher Lore ends up in his lab, a series of events occur that shakes Rory’s world to the core.
Purchase Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FRK8DD2 (free on Kindle unlimited, 99 cents otherwise)
BookFunnel (free to read with mailing list sign up): https://dl.bookfunnel.com/t056azhj6u
Author Bio
Jonathan Pongratz is a writer and author of captivating horror, fantasy, and other speculative fiction stories. When he’s not writing, he’s busy being a bookworm, video game junkie, and karaoke vocalist. A former resident of Dallas, he currently resides in Kansas City with his halloween cat Ajax. By day he works magic in finance, by night he creates dark and mesmerizing worlds.
Social Media
Website
www.facebook.com/jonathanpongratz
GoodReads
www.goodreads.com/jonathanpongratz
Tumblr
Amazon
Books and Such 
How are you on the second week already!?!?
So fun! The split so far: 4 new authors and 4 I’ve met before. Exciting.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yep – October’s flying by, Jay! Glad you’ve met some new authors and caught up with some old friends also.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Teri! It’s good to see Jonathan here again. Wishing him huge success with this one. Hugs on the wing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I was excited to hear he’s working on a sequal to Reaper. Hugs, Teagan!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your kind words!
LikeLike
Thanks so much for having me! You know I love everything Halloween and anything that goes bump in the night. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Then you’re in the right place – thrilled to have you back this year, Jonny!
LikeLike
Thanks again!
LikeLike
Pingback: #BadMoonRising Conscience by Jonathan Pongratz #scifihorror #shortstory – Jaunts & Haunts
I read “Conscience,” and it was exciting and good. I’m looking forward to Reaper’s sequel!
LikeLiked by 2 people
We’re in the same boat on both thoughts, Priscilla.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This story is so intriguing. Ooo…and speaking to Edgar Allen Poe during a seance. Boy, that stirs the imagination 👻
LikeLiked by 2 people
That would be one heck of a seance, Tessa – just imagine what the ticket prices would be, lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to see Jonathan back with a new book for this year. I already have “Reaper” on my to-read list, and it looks like I’m going to have to add “Concions” too. My poor Kindle! I’ll say one thing, I won’t be able to complain I have nothing suitable for Halloween to read. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sorry about the typo in the book title in my previous comment. Trying to finish up here so I can log off for the evening, and only noticed it after I posted the comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If we all had to re-do typos, most folks would have a few comments here, lol.
LikeLike
I hope you enjoy my stories! Thanks for considering them. 🙂
LikeLike
Teri: That’s true. LOL!
Johnny: you’re very welcome. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is interesting to meet a plotter for a change, Teri, most people seem to be primarily pansters. I am a mixture as I have a beginning and ending but the middle goes its own way. I like the sound of Jonathan’s book.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Roberta. My plotting can be a bit obsessive, but it definitely works for me and I hope the end result shows.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m a mixture myself, Robbie. I admire writers who can plot and make outlines. Seems like the books comes together much easier that way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, this sounds like something else I HAVE to add to my TBR pile. Bad Moon Rising is going to make me go broke, Teri. But how can I resist a tale about “cerebral uploads for the recently deceased?” I reallyreallyreally must know what that’s all about!
Great answers, Jonathan, and another winner for this series, Teri! Sharing! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for your interest in my short story. I was inspired by a writing competition’s prompt from Scribophile back in the day.
I hope you enjoy the brief journey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really enjoyed this story, Marcia – also let Jonny know I’d be interested in reading more about these characters. Hoping he takes the hint!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Haha, thanks Teri! You know, I never really considered writing another story in this universe until I got a lot of feedback that people wanted to know what happens next. Who knows, maybe I’ll keep Rory’s adventure going. Anything is possible.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on The Write Stuff and commented:
Running a bit late again, folks, but please don’t let that stop you from heading on over to Teri Polen’s Bad Moon Rising event. A great post today from Jonathan Pongratz about his story, “Conscience.” This is one I can’t wait to read. You’ll see why when you visit! And don’t forget to share far and wide so others can learn about Jonathan’s work, too. Thanks, and thanks again to Teri for such a fun series! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Marcia!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another fun interview. I have Jonny’s book in my kindle just waiting for a chance to read it. Thanks for hosting another fun guest, Teri. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you liked my answers. The questions were a lot of fun to think on. 🙂
I hope you enjoy the dystopian scifi madness!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your gazelle legs made me laugh. 😀
LikeLiked by 3 people
Haha I can run like the wind just like Pocahontas, especially if theres a crazy killer after me. If that’s not inspiration I dont know what is!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jonny’s short story was a thought-provoking read, Diana – you’ll enjoy it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for letting us know a little bit more about Johnny, Teri. His book sounds terrific.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sci-fi, dystopia, a touch of horror – what’s not to like?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great interview, Teri. I always enjoy meeting new writers and hearing about their writing process.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Same here, Jill – part of why I love hosting this every year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s good to know something scares him too LOL
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, theres plenty to be scared about, even for someone who adores Horror as much as I do.
If I was thrust into some of these situations I would definitely be shaking in my boots a bit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of variety this time around! Cerebral uploads are new to me. Sounds scary but intriguing.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s a bizarre concept, Audrey – but just think about what you could do with that in a story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great to meet you, Jonathan 👋
After Teri’s tantalising intro about ‘guarding your brains’, you have me very intrigued, sir 😉 sound like something up my alley!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jessica, nice to meet you too!
If I could sum up my story it would be one part cerebral hijinks, one part robots with a kick, and a whole lotta Corporation mystery.
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sounds very interesting 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
Great interview – hi, Jonathan! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh my gosh, Sue! Great to see you again. 🙂 Hope all is going well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Another fun interview, Teri! And a new author for me. Thanks!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad I could introduce you, Jan – have a great weekend!
LikeLike
“Rory Bennels lives in a world ruled by a business entity known as the Corporation.” Sometimes I feel that way too.
LikeLike