#BadMoonRising Johnny Lycan and the Vegas Berserker (The Werewolf PI #2) by Wayne Turmel #thriller #paranormal #werewolves

On October 29, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising26 Comments

This author made his BMR debut two years ago with the first book in his Johnny Lycan series, and he returns today with book two that releases in December. Saying Bloody Mary three times in front of a mirror? Only at a snooty brunch. But he and The Candyman are acquaintances. Welcome Wayne Turmel!

Have you ever said Bloody Mary three times in front of a mirror?

I know what you mean, but the only time I ever said Bloody Mary three times in front of a mirror was at a snooty brunch in West Hollywood, and the waiter ignored me every time. Candyman, on the other hand, and I are on speaking terms.

Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard?

I’d much rather visit a graveyard. They are so much more atmospheric than haunted houses, there’s the smell of newmown grass, and there’s a lot more room for running, dodging and hiding when #%$#^ gets real.

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

The Dead Zone freaked me out when I read it the first time, and it still does today, maybe more so. It takes the old “what if you had a chance to kill Hitler?” question and brings it home. There are too many similarities to what’s going on now in the world. I’d rather take my chances with rabid Saint Bernards.

What books did you grow up reading?

I was—and am—bibliographically promiscuous. (I’m a book slut, I’ll read anything.) I grew up with a lot of classic “boy books,” Kim, Treasure Island, The Three Musketeers, and started reading adult books early. My mom let me read Jaws, because she was fine with me reading the blood and guts. She didn’t know there was a sex scene that left a mark.

Do you regret leaving out something in the final draft of any of your books?

My daughter has too much influence on my writing. When I wrote Acre’s Bastard, it was supposed to be a one-off, standalone book. I had a lovely epilogue saying what happened to Lucca after the Crusades. She told me if I left that in there and didn’t continue the series she wouldn’t look after me in my old age and would put me in a home when I got old. That wasn’t so bad, since I consider the sequel, Acre’s Orphans, some of my very best work.

I nearly ended the second Johnny Lycan book with a tantalizing sexy scenario, and her considered literary opinion was, “ewwwww.”

So, no threesome for Johnny. The world’s loss.

What are you working on now?

I am at about the third-way mark of the third Johnny Lycan adventure. Fun creepiness and hijinks will ensue as he deals with a 400 year old witch finderand a haunted book. Oh and a buttload of rats.

The world’s favorite werewolf P.I. is off to Las Vegas. What could go wrong?

Life’s good for Johnny Lupul. He has a steady gig and a growing reputation as a guy who gets things done. He’s even learning to keep his Lycan side under control—mostly.

But when he’s sent to Sin City on a simple retrieval job, things go sideways. He bumps up against a coven of badass witches, a psychic pawn broker, and a mysterious enemy with a secret darker and more violent than his own.

“Like Jack Reacher with bite. Even more fun than the first installment.”

“Turmel has created a series that’s part detective noir, part urban fantasy, with plenty of snarky humor.”

Purchase Links

Johnny Lycan and the Anubis Disk https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KQHJQ7D

Johnny Lycan and the Vegas Berserker (preorder) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B89LQTKR

The Lucca Le Pou Stories (2 book set) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B8TV3YGB

Author Bio and Social Media

Wayne Turmel lives and writes in Las Vegas. He’s the author of 10 nonfiction books, but writes fiction to save what’s left of his sanity. He’s a former standup comic, car salesman and still a consultant since he needs to pay the rent. He lives with his wife, The Duchess, and Mad Max, Defender of the Realm, Scourge of Lizards, and Most Manly of Poodles. You can find him at www.WayneTurmel.com, on Twitter @Wturmel, and his Facebook author page

Twitter @Wturmel

Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/Wayne-Turmel-Author-105157635590618

Blog and Website www.WayneTurmel.com

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Wayne-Turmel/e/B00J5PGNWU

#BadMoonRising Boondock Butcher by Chuck Buda #horror #suspense

On October 28, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising47 Comments

Happy Friday! Many of us remember childhood sleepovers where we told ghost stories. But this author’s recounting of his sleepover will send chills down your spine. He also introduces his most recent writing distraction – and the cuteness is off the charts. Welcome Chuck Buda!

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

The Stephen King novel that unsettled me the most was Pet Semetary. I read the book late at night one summer, next to an open window. While the book was creepy, the scares were amplified by the nightly shriek of wild cats fighting outside my window. I would have to check under my bed before turning off the lights. IT was a close second because the story preyed on the fears in my mind. I suppose if clowns shrieked and fought outside my window then IT would have surpassed Pet Semetary easily.

Which unsolved murder fascinates you the most?

The unsolved murder that fascinates me the most would have to be the Dyatlov Pass Incident. I have read numerous books on the eerie event and the intrigue is overwhelming. Tales of strange lights in the area, a sketchy photo of a hairy monster and the random injuries or positions of the bodies check off all my boxes for things Bigfoot, UFO and unknown. If the event had taken place in more favorable conditions or a place less remote than the Ural Mountains, the potential explanations would make far more sense. It freaks me out to think about this crazy, unsolved murder.

Would you rather go to a real haunted house or watch a horror movie marathon?

Hands down, I would much rather watch a horror movie marathon than go to a real haunted house. It is easier to shake off scares from celluloid. I’m deathly afraid of bringing home an attachment from a haunted house. I love to watch ghost hunting television programs and often daydream about visiting a real haunted location. But I couldn’t do it in real life. True story, I stayed at a friend’s house once, a documented haunted house, and I couldn’t sleep the whole night. I insisted my friends lock the bedroom door. In the middle of the night, I heard footsteps in the hall and then the doorknob jiggled as if the person tried to come inside but found it locked. Moments later, the footsteps were inside the room, approaching my bed on the other side of the room. I had the pillow jammed into my mouth and the covers pulled up over my head. Nothing happened but I trembled, awake all night. The next morning, none of the guys who crashed in the room with me had heard a thing. Goosebumps!

Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?

Pets have never gotten in the way of my writing until recently. We welcomed a new puppy into our lives (a Cavapoo) and he is a handful. He gets into lots of trouble chewing furniture and tearing apart our clothing but he is sooooooo cute. His name is Bobo and he is almost four months old now. The interruptions are well worth it!

What books did you grow up reading?

I grew up reading Encyclopedia Brown mysteries, Edgar Allan Poe and The Hardy Boys. Then I moved on to James Bond novels. With all the suspense and thrills in my formative reading years, it was a natural progression to Stephen King books at age thirteen.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on a six-book classic western series. The Sentinel series will be rapidly released over the next year (one book every other month) starting this month. I am very excited about this series. Fans of my Son of Earp weird western series have already expressed interest in this new venture.

Local legends aren’t what they seem.

Nestled within the remote Tennessee mountains, a small town hides an ugly secret. A bloody wound that has never healed.

Renee Hunter finds herself broken down on a dark, lonely road. A local Samaritan helps her out. But he may have just delivered her into the belly of the beast.

Renee discovers that young women like her disappear in these woods. Now she must fight for survival.

But the Boondock Butcher stands in her way.

Purchase Links

Debt Collector Series

Author Bio and Social Media

Chuck Buda writes across multiple genres including westerns, horror, and crime thrillers. He loves to eat pizza, drink whiskey and craft beers, listen to Norwegian Black Metal and search for answers about Bigfoot and UFOs. Plus, he works very hard to fit quotes from Seinfeld or Big Bang Theory into every conversation. That’s a ton of fun in one man.

Join his mailing list

Follow Chuck on BookBub:

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/chuck-buda

Follow Chuck on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/Chuck_Buda

Chuck Buda co-hosts The Mando Method Podcast on Project Entertainment Network with author, Armand Rosamilia. They talk about all aspects of writing.

#BadMoonRising Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind by Darlene Foster #childrensbooks #ghosts #supernatural

On October 27, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising73 Comments

I’m a big fan of this author’s Amanda series. I haven’t traveled to all the places Amanda has, but after reading the book I feel like I have. They’re so well-researched they could double as travel guides. I follow this author on social media and get to see adorable pics of her fur babies, but if you haven’t met them yet, today is your chance. Welcome Darlene Foster!

Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard?

A haunted graveyard. (Aren’t they all haunted? I mean, they are full of dead people, right?) I love graveyards and spend a lot of time in them. They are outside and easy to escape if things get tense. You can get locked inside a haunted house. Yikes!

What is the spookiest ghost story you’ve ever heard?

The story about a young couple who are making out in a car when they hear noises outside. When they check, there is an artificial hand hanging on the door handle. Later they hear on the news about a one-armed serial killer on the loose. That always creeps me out. (Maybe it’s not really a ghost story but it is scary)

If you could have a spooky Halloween pet (black cat, owl, bat, rat, wolf, etc.), which would you choose?

A black cat. I have owned three black cats in my life and they were all great. Mind you, I was careful not to make any of them angry.

Have you ever travelled as research for any of your books?

I travel as research for all my books! I travelled to New Mexico to research Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind. I visited the haunted hotel in Cimarron and boy did it have scary vibes.

Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?

Oh yes! My two dogs, Dot and Lia, are always pestering me for a walk just as I am at an intense part of the book.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones. There just might be some spooky parts in it, you never know.

Amanda Ross is on a school trip to Taos, New Mexico with several of her fellow creative students. She shares a room with Cleo, an anxious classmate who insists she sees ghosts. Although Amanda is determined to prove there is no such thing, she can’t seem to shake the feeling that something or someone is watching her.

Join Amanda, Cleo and their funny friend, Caleb, as they visit a rugged and beautiful landscape where a traditional hacienda, an ancient pueblo, and a haunted and spooky hotel all hold secrets to a wild and violent past.

Does Cleo really see ghosts? Can Amanda escape the eerie wind that follows her everywhere? Perhaps The Day of the Dead will reveal the mysteries of Taos in this latest adventure of Amanda’s travels.

Purchase Links

Amazon.ca https://www.amazon.ca/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Wind/dp/1771681209/

Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Travels/dp/1771681209/

Amazon.co.uk https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Travels-ebook/dp/B01MT8LXAR/

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amanda-in-new-mexico-darlene-foster/1125480361?ean=9781771681209

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/es/en/ebook/amanda-in-new-mexico

Author Bio and Social Media

Darlene Foster grew up on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, where her love of reading inspired her to see the world and write stories. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her travel/adventure books, Darlene enjoys spending time with her family in Canada and with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs, Dot and Lia, in Spain.

website www.darlenefoster.ca

blog https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3156908.Darlene_Foster

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DarleneFosterWriter

Twitter @supermegawoman

#BadMoonRising The Visitor by Terry Tyler #mystery #suspense

On October 26, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising55 Comments

I’ve read several books by this author (highly recommend!), and we share a deep love of The Walking Dead. Her featured book is set within the same world as her Project Renova series, but can be read as a standalone. She attempted to write a novel in a genre she rarely or never reads – and it was an epic fail. Welcome Terry Tyler!

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

Misery. The gradual revelation of Annie Wilkes’ insanity was terrifying, as her behaviour changed from benign if a little eccentric, to completely psychotic. The sense of menace, as Paul began to understand how much danger he was in. How trapped he was. I much prefer this brand of darkness to the evil turning out to be a giant spider, or similar.

My favourite of King’s books is The Stand, but it was Misery that made me feel scared when I was reading it.

Would you rather go to a real haunted house or watch a horror movie marathon?

I’ll go with the film binge. Mind you, I’d choose that over most activities!

Which unsolved murder fascinates you the most?

I do have an interest in those that many consider still unsolved, such as JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Kurt Cobain, etc. Perhaps ‘controversial’ is the right word, though!

Have you ever tried to write a novel in a genre you rarely or never read?

Yes. It was hopeless! About 10 years ago I thought I’d see if I could write chick lit/a romcom, as that was one of the most popular genres on Amazon at the time. By the fourth page, my not-ditzy-enough heroine was having deep introspective thoughts and making incisive remarks about the human condition. Wasn’t going to happen.

Have you ever traveled as research for any of your books?

Yes, but not very far. The island of Lindisfarne was the farthest (just off the coast of the far north east of England). I went alone on my second trip; it was March, and the rain was relentless. I walked around the island in a big yellow waterproof thing, wiping the rain off my glasses as I took verbal notes and film. I was stuck there for six hours, cold and wet, because I don’t drive; the bus from Berwick-on-Tweed dropped me off at 10 am and was not due back until 4 pm.

I haven’t travelled much, generally – because of this, I see everywhere I go as possible research/setting for future works. One reason why I take a lot of photos, all the time.

What are you working on now?

A series about a ‘rage’ type of virus, in the form of three short novels. I will be writing at least two of them before I publish the first, as it’s a continuing story. I’ve always thought that I would not go to my grave without writing a zombie series, then I decided to make it a rage virus instead, because it feels more feasible. The virus affects certain neurotransmitters in the brain and causes the subject to be motivated by two instincts only: to kill and to eat.

Aside from anything else, I didn’t want to run the risk of writing a really bad version of The Walking Dead, so I had to say goodbye to the zombie idea.

Many thanks for including me in your October feature, Teri!

In 2024, a mystery virus ravages the entire world. ‘Bat Fever’ is highly contagious and one hundred per cent lethal.

A cottage tucked away in an isolated Norfolk village seems like the ideal place to sit out a catastrophic pandemic, but some residents of Hincham resent the arrival of Jack, Sarah and their friends, while others want to know too much about them.

What the villagers don’t know is that beneath Sarah’s cottage is a fully-stocked, luxury survival bunker. A post-apocalyptic ‘des res’.

Hincham isolates itself from the rest of the country, but the deaths continue―and not from the virus. There’s a killer on the loose, but is it a member of the much-depleted community, or somebody from outside? Paranoia is rife, as friend suspects friend, and everybody suspects the newcomers.

Most terrifying of all is that nobody knows who’s next on the list…

Purchase Link

https://bookgoodies.com/a/B08ML72P2K

Author Bio and Social Media

Terry Tyler writes dark psychological, post-apocalyptic and dystopian fiction, available on Amazon. Her latest book, Where There’s Doubt, is about a romance scammer and his victims. She is an avid reader and is a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review team. Aside from writing and reading, she loves The Walking Dead, history, the coast and the countryside and anything on telly about the end of the world as we know it. She lives in North East England with her husband.

#BadMoonRising Betrayed by Joseph Lewis #psychologicalthriller #TuesdayBookBlog

On October 25, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising32 Comments

Today’s author has made several appearances on this blog, and he’s a publisher sibling of mine. He’s featuring a backlist title, but also has a preorder link for an upcoming release. Haunted house or haunted graveyard? He’s visited both. Haunted high school? Uh, yeah – he attended one. Just imagine those class reunions. Welcome Joseph Lewis!

Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard?

I’ve done both, but I have to tell you, I attended a haunted high school. It was a co-ed boarding school, and there is a history, well before my time there, of odd and strange occurrences. Stories of screams in the night. The founder back in the 1800s had a history of practicing occult and witchcraft. Seldom did you see students by themselves. Unsettling and creepy!

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

It was The Stand that did it for me. “The walking dude” was a figure I couldn’t get out of my head for a long time. The image and what he stood for stuck with me. Still does. The book’s concept of good vs evil intrigues me, as it did in Golding’s book, Lord of the Flies. The idea in both books that civilization won’t hold up if there isn’t structure and those willing to fight for the good of the whole is a theme in my writing. Another great spooky book is Peter Straub’s Ghost Story. Fenny Bate still gives me chills. I couldn’t read it at night.

Would you buy a doll that you knew was haunted?

Oh, heck no! Any doll, any clown – haunted or not- are just creepy to me. Pennywise is an awesome character, but scary as all get out. My daughters never played with dolls- their choice, not mine. My oldest daughter cannot sleep in a room if it has a doll in it.

Do you believe in any ‘mythical’ monsters like chupacabras or shadow people?

Yes, I do. I believe in the spirit world- both the good (angels, saints) and the bad (Satan, ghosts). I use the supernatural in my own writing. One of my characters, George, is a full-blooded Navajo boy of seventeen. He was raised by his grandfather and practices the traditional Navajo beliefs of the spirit world. I believe there are forces- good and bad- at play in our world and in our minds. Can be both scary and comforting.

How do you use social media as an author?

Mostly for promotion. I will post reviews, snippets, and blurbs to sell books. I have an author website where I introduce authors to the public, talk about writing and give examples, introduce my characters and my books. I find it both fun and overwhelming. I’d rather just write, honestly, and have someone else do the promotion.

What books did you grow up reading?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes; The Seminole (I don’t even know if it is in print any longer; Stephen King and Peter Straub. Now, I read James Patterson, John Sandford, and David Baldacci. I prefer mystery and crime to read, which is what I write. I like the suspense and the “keep them guessing” aspect to mystery and suspense. I try to do that in my own writing, though I blend a fair amount of coming-of-age threads in my books, since my main characters are a patchwork group of adopted boys.

If you could be mentored by a famous author, who would it be?

I would love an after dinner conversation with James Patterson, Stephen King, and John Sandford. Each are unique. I tend to write most like Patterson – short chapters, interesting characters, and a crime to solve. But King, because of his detail in setting and atmosphere, his ability to bring a “place” to life, intrigues me and I would want to understand how he goes about developing it. Lastly, Sandford, because of his journalism background, doesn’t waste words. I struggle with that.

What are you working on now?

My newest book, Fan Mail, is currently available for preorder. It is different from any book I’ve written, though it still is in the thriller-crime genre, and it still uses the same characters as my other books. However, there is a strong coming-of-age theme to it that readers will identify with and love. The brief synopsis for Fan Mail is:

A barrage of threatening letters, a car bomb, and a heart attack rip apart what was once a close-knit family of adopted brothers.

Randy and Bobby, along with fellow band member and best friend, Danny, receive fan mail that turns menacing. They ignore it, but to their detriment. The sender turns up the heat. Violence upends their world. It rocks the relationship between the boys and ripples through their family, nearly killing their dad.

As these boys turn on each other, adopted brother Brian flashes back to that event in Arizona where he nearly lost his life saving his brothers. The scars on his face and arms healed, but not his heart. Would he once again have to put himself in harm’s way to save them? And if faced with that choice, will he?

Fan Mail can be preordered at https://www.blackrosewriting.com/thrillers/fanmail. If readers purchase the book prior to the publication date of March 30, 2023, you may use the promo code: PREORDER2023 to receive a 15% Discount!

Integrity is protecting someone who betrayed you. Courage is keeping a promise even though it might mean death.

A late-night phone call turns what was to be a fun hunting trip into a deadly showdown. Fifteen-year-old brothers George Tokay, Brian Evans and Brett McGovern face death on top of a mesa on the Navajo Nation Reservation in Arizona. They have no idea why men are intent on killing them.

Betrayed is a contemporary psychological thriller and an exploration of the heart and of a blended family of adopted kids, their relationships to each other and their parents woven into a tight mystery-thriller.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Black Rose Writing

Author Bio and Social Media

After having been in education for forty-six years as a teacher, coach, counselor and administrator, Joseph Lewis has semi-retired and now works part-time as an online learning facilitator. He uses his psychology and counseling background to craft thriller/crime/detective mysteries, and has taken creative writing and screen writing courses at UCLA and USC.

Lewis has published eight books, all available on Amazon and each to excellent reviews: Taking Lives (May 2021) the prequel to the Lives Trilogy; Stolen Lives (May 2021) Book One of the Lives Trilogy is a BestThrillers 1^st Place Award Winner for Crime Fiction, and a Literary Titan Gold Book Award Winner; Shattered Lives (May 2021) Book Two of the Trilogy; and Splintered Lives (May 2021) Book Three of the Trilogy (May 2021); Caught in a Web (April 2018), which was a PenCraft Literary Award Winner for Crime Fiction and named “One of the Best Crime Fiction Thrillers of 2018!” by Best Thrillers; Spiral Into Darkness (January 2019), which was named a Recommended Read by Author’s Favorites; Betrayed November 2020 is a Top Shelf Award 1^st Place Fiction-Mystery; Top Shelf Award Runner-Up Fiction-Crime; PenCraft Award 1^st Place Winner, Maxy Award Runner-Up for Mystery-Suspense, a Literary Titan Silver Book Award Winner, and a Reader’s Favorite 5 Star Rating Winner; Blaze In, Blaze Out January 2022 has already won a Literary Titan Gold Book Award, A Reader’s Favorite Recommended Read, and was an Editor’s Pick by BestThrillers.com . Lewis has another thriller-crime-mystery, Fan Mail hitting the market March 30, 2023.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Lewis has been happily married to his wife, Kim. Together they have three wonderful children: Wil (deceased July 2014), Hannah, and Emily. He and his wife now reside in Virginia.

Social Media Contact:

Author Website at https://www.jrlewisauthor.blog

Twitter at https://www.twitter.com/jrlewisauthor

Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author

Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/Joseph-Lewis/e/B01FWB9AOI /

Blog at: https://www.simplethoughtsfromacomplicatedmindsortof.com

#BadMoonRising The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi #horror #paranormal #ghosts

On October 24, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising49 Comments

Another BMR debut today! I have a weakness for haunted house stories, and dual timelines make them even more irresistible – and just look at that eerie cover below. This author shares the spookiest ghost story he’s ever heard – but it happened to him. Welcome Steven Rigolosi!

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

Firestarter. For me, it fired on all cylinders (pardon the pun). There is something so elementally terrifying about fire and how quickly it gets out of control. I re-learned this lesson not too long ago when my mother’s kitchen burned down in the space of about 3 minutes. Something in the oven ignited, and before she knew it, the kitchen was engulfed in flames. Fortunately, she survived unharmed. But it was such a terrifying experience for everyone that I can’t imagine myself re-reading Firestarter any time soon.

Would you buy a doll that you knew was haunted?

I don’t believe in tempting fate, so the answer is a big No. Also, several years ago I wrote a short story, “Locked in the Basement with Bebe,” about a haunted doll. The doll (Bebe) ended up disturbing me so much that I’ve sworn off haunted dolls forever.

What is the spookiest ghost story you’ve ever heard?

I think this one is the spookiest because it happened to me. When I was in college, I went to Barbados on Spring Break. One night during the vacation, I had a dream about my father’s oldest brother. In the dream we were just sitting at my kitchen table and talking. He kept saying, “You’re a good boy” and “You march to the beat of your own drummer.” The dream was very odd because I was not close to that uncle at all. In fact, he and my father didn’t get along and had almost nothing to do with each other. When I got home, I got a phone call from my mother telling me that my uncle had died—during the night on which I had the dream.

Have you ever traveled as research for any of your books?

Yes, for The Haunting of Kinnawe House, I traveled many times to York County, Maine, visiting towns such as York, Cape Neddick, and Ogunquit. Part of the story takes place in Northampton, Massachusetts, so I went there, too, to soak up the sense of history. Images from all of these places burned themselves into my brain and made their way into the book. Now I’m a big fan of traveling to research my books, though I hadn’t done much of it in the past. For fun, I am also attaching a photo of the real house (now demolished) that inspired Kinnawe House.

What is your kryptonite as a writer?

I can’t write in present tense, so if someone said to me, “You must write a novel in present tense, or you will die,” then I would die.

What books did you grow up reading?

At first I was going to answer this question by mentioning specific writers and books, but then another thought occurred to me. I don’t come from a wealthy family, so money was tight as I was growing up. Of course I made frequent use of the library, but as we all know, there’s nothing quite like buying books. Hardcover books were beyond my budget, and then I discovered the book clubs of that era: The Literary Guild, The Doubleday Book Club, The Mystery Guild, and Book-of-the-Month Club. They made hardcovers affordable, and they helped to form my reading tastes, in that I discovered a lot of writers through them. While I don’t remember them offering a lot of horror selections, there were always a few, and I still have my book-club editions of the classic haunted house stories that inspired my book, including Stephen King’s The Shining, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and Anne Rivers Siddons’ The House Next Door. I also love mysteries, and the book clubs helped me discover a lot of the greats, including Agatha Christie, John D. MacDonald, Andrew Garve, Michael Gilbert, and Dorothy L. Sayers.

The Haunting of Kinnawe House is a ghost story that spans two eras in U.S. history: the American colonial period and the present. Matthew Rollins, an aspiring singer/songwriter, takes a job as caretaker of Kinnawe House in Agamenticus, Maine. The haunting begins immediately upon Matthew’s arrival. Threatening, ghostly strangers stalk the property. The cellar is filled with mysterious, foul-smelling barrels. And with each day, Matthew’s insomnia gets worse. The story alternates between past and present, as Matthew struggles with increasingly violent hallucinations, and the 1740s, as a dark preacher populates his town with a community willing to sell their souls for a comfortable life. Past and present come together as Matthew learns, little by little, of his family’s ties to Kinnawe House—and why the house will not rest until Matthew has taken his own life.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Black Rose Writing

Author Bio and Social Media

Steven Rigolosi is the editor-in-chief of Cambria & Calibri, an editorial services firm, where he specializes in editing psychology, economics, and business books. His other published fiction includes four mysteries, including Who Gets the Apartment? and The Outsmarting of Criminals. Both received the David Award for Best Mystery of the Year, andOprah’s editors selected The Outsmarting of Criminals as one of the best mysteries of its publication year. He lives in Northern New Jersey, where he plays classical flute with the Ramsey Wind Symphony. His other books are Circle of Assassins and Androgynous Murder House Party.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @srigolosi

Facebook: StevenRigolosiWriter

Email: stevenrigolosi AT gmail.com

#BadMoonRising Fiona’s Guardians by Dan Klefstad #horror #vampires #paranormal

On October 23, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising43 Comments

Today’s author is making his BMR debut! I’ve been a vampire fan since I saw the original Fright Night, so his book immediately grabbed my attention. He names The Shining as the King novel that unsettled him most – but he poses an interesting theory that makes me look at the book and movie in a different light. Welcome Dan Klefstad!

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

The Shining. This is so much more than a ghost story. The theme of family disintegration is especially unsettling as the father, Jack Torrance, grows increasingly obsessive and violent, and Wendy and son Danny feel threatened by his behavior. I was also fascinated by how Danny’s presence at the Overlook Hotel seems to intensify the paranormal disturbances there. My own interpretation of this novel, and the 1980 film, is that Danny’s visions, or “shining,” hint that he may be consciously destroying his father.

What is the spookiest ghost story you’ve ever heard?

A former cop in Rockford, Illinois, told me the story of a haunted apartment she rented. Her Sicilian mother refused to step into it, declaring something evil lurked there. She crossed herself and walked away. The former cop described various phenomena like faucets turning on, cabinet doors opening, etc. One night she was depressed and sat on the floor in the dark next to her fish tank, which provided the only light in the room. Soon she noticed all the fish had gathered in one corner near the bottom, as if they felt threatened by something. Suddenly, the cop was doused with water. Drenched, she went to a bar and called a friend who took her home. She moved out soon after.

Would you rather go to a real haunted house or watch a horror movie marathon?

Oh definitely the former. I’d love to visit a haunted home — especially one with a well-documented history of hauntings. I’ve never experienced the paranormal first-hand.

How do you use social media as an author?

Mainly to co-brand with independent bookstores. I’ve been lucky enough to get my book stocked by 27 indie bookshops, so I mainly use Facebook, Twitter & Instagram to share pics of smiling booksellers holding my book. One shop (From My Shelf Books in Wellsboro, PA) sent a pic featuring their bookstore cats, which I’m attaching. I’m proud of my association with indie bookstores, and we both win because the pics they send usually get the most engagement. Of course, I also use social media to announce reading & signing events, or when a new book is coming out.

What is your kryptonite as a writer?

Noise. I can’t listen to music when I write. If I’m outside, birds are fine. But traffic and lawnmowers will drive me to a quiet place inside.

What are you working on now?

The sequel to my vampire novel, Fiona’s Guardians. In it, I introduce a species of vampire little known in the west called a penanggalan.

When a vampire seduces you, death is minutes away. When she hires you, you’ll soon wish you were dead.

It’s a truth known to every guardian who worked for Fiona, including Daniel. Aside from managing the day to day chores and keeping her protected, he manages an investment portfolio to buy stolen blood from hospital workers. The 250-year-old Fiona needs 10 pints of human blood every night. As a result of this, Daniel and Fiona are always on the lookout for police, but fail to notice their gradual encirclement by Mors Strigae, an ancient order of monks dedicated to the extermination of vampires. Gone for a century, the monks start a new war when they destroy Fiona’s sire. This time, her vampire family is pushed to the edge of extinction — and the humans who serve them are hunted and executed.

After 35 years, what keeps him loyal? And will he ever be allowed to leave?

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author Bio and Social Media

Dan Klefstad is a longtime radio host and newscaster at NPR station WNIJ. His latest novel, Fiona’s Guardians, is about humans who work for a beautiful manipulative vampire named Fiona. The book was adapted by Artists’ Ensemble Theater for their Mysterious Journey podcast. Dan is currently working on a sequel. He writes in DeKalb, Illinois.

www.facebook.com/dan.klefstad

@danklefstad on Twitter

@danklefstad on Instagram

#BadMoonRising House of Sorrow by Joan Hall #thriller #shortstory #suspense

On October 22, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising92 Comments

I share this author’s disappointment in ghost tours – we’ve yet to see a ghost. Seems like its something that should be guaranteed on that kind of tour, right? The Legends and Lore posts on her blog feature jaw-dropping and uncanny mysteries/legends – I highly recommend you check them out. Furry friends have been stealing the spotlight this month, and she brings a couple of cuties with her today. Welcome Joan Hall!

Which unsolved murder fascinates you the most?

Can I cheat a bit by mentioning another type of unsolved mystery? The story of D. B. Cooper has always intrigued me. He hijacked a commercial airliner in 1971, demanded 200K in ransom money, then parachuted out of the plane somewhere over the Pacific Northwest. A portion of the ransom money was found years later, but there’s been no sign of the man (living or dead).

Specific to a murder, it would have to be the story of Lizzie Borden. Did she really give her mother forty whacks, then gave her father forty-one?

If you could have a spooky Halloween pet (black cat, owl, bat, rat, wolf, etc.), which would you choose?

A black cat, of course. Matter of fact, I have a black cat. Little Bit found us and he’s often my writing “helper.”

Would you rather go to a real haunted house or watch a horror movie marathon?

A real haunted house, of course. I’ve been on Ghost Walks in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Jefferson, Texas. Jefferson is a small town about an hour from where I live. Still haven’t seen a ghost. “Sigh…”

Have you ever traveled as research for any of your books?

Does going to a coffee shop count? Seriously, I haven’t traveled to a specific location, but when I’m out and about—even locally—I’m always looking for ideas, observing people, etc. I’ve had short stories inspired by some of my observations of people.

Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing?

As I said, my cat Little Bit is my “helper.” My other cat, Tucker, is never far away from me when I’m on the sofa with my laptop. Both have served as the inspiration for pets in a couple of my stories, so yes, you could say they do help – even if they sometimes want to crawl on my lap during my writing time.

What books did you grow up reading?

I read a variety of books, but one of my favorites from childhood was Charlotte’s Web. I’m terrified of spiders, but I loved Charlotte and Wilber—even Templeton. After reading my first Agatha Christie book as a teenager, I was hooked on mystery and suspense.

Dream home or damned home?

Ruth Hazelton is over the moon when her husband Lee agrees with the nineteenth-century Victorian in Madeira, New Mexico, is the perfect home for them. While he starts his new job as police chief, she sets about unpacking and decorating.

But it’s not long before Ruth needs more. She becomes a fixture in the community, making time for everyone, volunteering, hosting events—she’s every bit the social butterfly her husband is not. Through her friendships, she learns several former residents of her home met with untimely deaths. If she were superstitious, she might fear a curse, but such nonsense doesn’t faze her.

Until the unthinkable happens.

Now, as the end of Ruth’s life draws near, she must find a way to convey her message and stop the cycle to prevent anyone else from suffering in the house of sorrow.

Purchase Link

Amazon

Author Bio and Social Media

Website: https://joanhall.net

Blog: https://joanhall.blog/

Books: https://www.joanhall.net/books/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanhallwrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoanHallWrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joanhall2/

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Joan-Hall/e/B01FNFO1RO

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/joan-hall

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15256532.Joan_Hall

#BadMoonRising Between the Darkness and the Dawn by Paula Cappa #paranormal #mystery #shortstory

On October 21, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising59 Comments

I’ve read a few of this author’s books, and if I could only use a couple words to describe them, they would be atmospheric and immersive. It’s so easy to lose yourself in her stories, and it may have something to do with her visiting the actual settings of some of her works. A name on a cemetery headstone inspired a story idea, and now she’s working on the final draft. Welcome Paula Cappa!

Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard?

Graveyard for sure. I prefer the ghostly quiet of cemeteries. Reading the names and dates on the headstones are inspiring for me to conjure up stories and scenes. I once read a headstone with the name Draakensky on it. The name was startling to me and actually ignited a story of a haunted estate named Draakensky. I’m now working on the final draft of my supernatural novel Draakensky.

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

The Shining. Mostly because the ghosts had such power in the story and they were unrelenting. Jack, of course, became a terrifying entity. The thing about King’s stories is they touch a vulnerable part of the human psyche and once he does that, as a reader, I can’t let go. The psychological elements are always compelling.

Which unsolved murder fascinates you the most?

I think the murders where the cause of death is mysterious and doesn’t lead directly to the killer. When a person dies and the cause is not clear or conflicting, it presents such doubt and curiosity. Something like the old-fashioned lock-door mysteries. How did the killer get in or out, accomplishing what seems impossible?

Have you ever traveled as research for any of your books?

Yes, for my novel Greylock, a mystery story about a music phantom, I placed the setting on Mt. Greylock in Massachusetts. The mountain itself is said to be haunted, so it was perfect to explore from a ghostly perspective. I traveled to Mt. Greylock twice to walk the trails and spend time at the top, getting inspiration from the views and the trails. There’s a lot of research that can be done online and lots of images, but putting your feet on the ground where your characters are walking, is another whole adventure. Also, I wrote a ghost short story (historical) about Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Old Manse in Concord, MA. I toured the Old Manse several times to get the feel in the house when Hawthorne lived there. The short story “Between the Darkness and the Dawn,” was published at Whistling Shade Literary Journal and now it’s a Kindle Single.

Have you ever tried to write a novel in a genre you rarely or never read?

I normally don’t read fairy tales, but a story with a king and queen kept circling in my head. When I started writing it down, I realized it was a traditional fairy tale (novelette). So, then I did have to start reading that genre and studying about how to write fairy tales. Because the story used magick (of course), I opened a whole new and exciting element to my writing. And wouldn’t you know, the novel I’m working on now has magick in it. Experimenting in new genres for reading and writing can only add more richness to your writing life and reading.

What are you working on now?

I am writing a novel about a haunted windmill and how magick lives with all of nature. The characters in the story are drawn to the magickal realms, some to witchcraft.

“Cappa’s Between Darkness and Dawn is as nuanced and atmospheric as the stories of Hawthorne himself. Mesmerizing.” –Erika Robuck, author of House of Hawthorne: A Novel.

Come visit the Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts. Does the ghost of author Nathaniel Hawthorne stalk the front parlor? Edward Fane, ley line hunter aims to find out. Armed with his EMF meters, Edward tests the Old Manse for ghosts that might be streaming the reported ley lines on the property. What Edward finds is more than just the ghost of Mr. Hawthorne. Edward uncovers a mysterious woman from Hawthorne’s yesterdays. In this supernatural mystery, more than just shadows exist between the darkness and the dawn. This historical ghost story was based on true events in Hawthorne’s life. Between the Darkness and the Dawn was originally published by Whistling Shade Literary Journal.

Purchase Link

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Between-Darkness-Dawn-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00TEKS8E2

Smashwords.com https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/591916

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/between-the-darkness-and-the-dawn-a-short-story-paula-cappa/1122774075

Apple Books https://books.apple.com/us/book/between-the-darkness-and-the-dawn-a-short-story/id1057761874

Author Bio and Social Media

Paula Cappa is a multi-award winning author of supernatural, metaphysical, and mysterious fiction. She is the recipient of the Gold Medal from Global Book Awards, the Chanticleer Book Award, and the American Book Fest Best Books Award Finalist for her novel Greylock. She also earned the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book Award, the Silver Medal at Global Book Awards, the Bronze Medal from Readers’ Favorite International Awards in Supernatural Suspense, and is a Gothic Readers Book Club Award Winner in Outstanding Fiction.

She is the author of Greylock, The Dazzling Darkness, and Night Sea Journey—print editions published by Crispin Books, Milwaukee WI.Cappa’s short fiction has appeared in ParABnormal Magazine, Coffin Bell Literary Journal, Unfading Daydream, Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Whistling Shade Literary Journal, SmokeLong Quarterly, Sirens Call Ezine, Every Day Fiction, Fiction365, Twilight Times Ezine, and in anthologies Journals of Horror: Found Fiction, Mystery Time, and Human Writes Literary Journal. Many of her short stories are now Kindle Singles on Amazon. Paula Cappa is a freelance copy editor and writes a short story blog, Reading Fiction Blog, at her website at paulacappa.wordpress.com. She is Co-Chair of the Pound Ridge Authors Society in Pound Ridge, NY.

Website and Reading Fiction Blog: paulacappa.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paula.cappa.94

Goodreads URL: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6553133.Paula_Cappa

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulaCappa1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paula_cappa/

Author page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Paula-Cappa/e/B009P2HZ7A/

#BadMoonRising The Emissary by Marcia Meara #paranormal #novella

On October 20, 2022 By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising69 Comments

The character of Rabbit from this author’s Wake-Robin Ridge series has stolen many readers’ hearts, mine included (pretty sure there’s an official fan club). I’m ecstatic that she’s working on a spinoff novella featuring him and other characters from the series. Haunted house or haunted graveyard? She gives some pretty sound logic for her choice. Welcome Marcia Meara!

Thank you so much for having me on board again this year, Teri. I look forward to Bad Moon Rising every October, and love passing it along for others to enjoy!

Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard?

I’d prefer a haunted graveyard. More room to RUN, and no doors to suddenly become locked, thus trapping me inside!

Do you believe in any ‘mythical’ monsters like chupacabras or shadow people?

None so far, but I like to keep an open mind where legends about scary animals are concerned, just in case there’s some basis for some of them. After all, naturalists are discovering new and unusual real animals out there all the time. Some of the legends could have come from sightings of those.

If you could have a spooky Halloween pet (black cat, owl, bat, rat, wolf, etc.), which would you choose?

We’ve had many black cats over the years and one of our current four is a black tuxedo cat, so if I were picking a spooky Halloween pet, I think I’d go with a wolf. Wolves are incredibly beautiful, clever, and interesting. And I’m told they are guaranteed to deter solicitors at the door.

How do you use social media as an author?

Abysmally, as far as actual marketing goes. But in wonderfully fun ways if you’re talking about networking with other authors and bloggers. I love how many friends I’ve met over the nine years I’ve been writing, and I learn from every one of them. I use my blog, The Write Stuff, not only to share my own work and news, but as much of theirs as I can, plus all sorts of stuff on various writing-related topics, as well. I wouldn’t give up my blog for anything!

Serious marketing (paid or otherwise) is something I’ve yet to tackle, but social media and the clever and entertaining community I find myself amidst has enriched my writing and my life in more ways than I can count!

What books did you grow up reading?

All of them! *wink* Seriously, my mother took me to the library every week, and by 3^rd grade, I’d read every book in the children’s section and she was forced to start finding adult books that were okay for a kid my age. The year I turned 12 was my BIG year. I started on all the popular authors of the day, and most of the classic ones from years past. I devoured Poe, Tennyson, Dickinson, Ayn Rand, Steinbeck, Bradbury, Salinger, Uris, Fitzgerald, Ferber, and more, including my all-time favorite of any generation, Daphne du Maurier. (My daughter’s middle name is Rebecca). I’ve never stopped reading, and never plan to.

What are you working on now?

I have two WIPs underway, though between some health issues and some major house and yard projects, I haven’t been able to focus on either in recent weeks. I hope to get back to each of them very soon.

I’m about halfway through the 4^th Riverbend novel, tentatively entitled A Need to Burn, which will introduce some new characters in that sleepy little Florida town. I’ve also started the first of a Wake-Robin Ridge spinoff trilogy of novellas, which I think will be called Cole, Cole, & Dupree Investigative Services. These novellas will feature everyone’s favorite gifted mountain boy, Rabbit, along with his dad, MacKenzie Cole, and his unofficially adopted big brother, Austin Dupree.

I will probably work on finishing the novella first because it’s shorter, and I’d love to get something new completed and published fairly soon. I need to make up for lost time!

Was Gabe Angelino, the mysterious truck driver in Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2, really an angel, as Willow Green believes? Or was he simply a good man, determined to help a stranger in need? Find out, as author Marcia Meara reveals the truth in the first Riverbend spinoff novella, The Emissary.

An angel’s work is never done—that’s part of the gig. But angels hadn’t been created to deal with such a vastly over-populated planet, rife with misery, suffering, and general chaos. Helping souls in peril has become a nearly impossible job, and even angelic tempers are frayed.

The archangel Azrael has had enough. He believes he’s found a way to ease their burden while saving jeopardized humans, too—hired help.

When Jake Daughtry lost his life rescuing a total stranger from certain death, he was on the fast track to Heaven. But that was before Azrael pulled him right out of line at the Pearly Gates. Now, as an Emissary to the Angels, Jake is taking to the highway in a quest to help souls in trouble. But the innate stubbornness of human beings bent on self-destruction is a challenge unlike any he’s ever faced.

It’s up to Jake and Azrael to bridge the gap between humans and angels. Will they ever convince the Council of Angels this endeavor is worthwhile? Can Jake figure out how to play by Azrael’s complicated rules? Will Azrael ever master the use of contractions in general conversation?

To find out the answers, hop on board Jake’s big red-and-white semi and travel the roads from the Florida Keys to north Georgia on an adventure that will make you laugh hard and cry even harder.

Purchase link below.

Author Bio and Social Media

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years and four big cats. When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds, to furry critters, to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?