Tag: occult

#BadMoonRising Father of Lies by Steve Stred #horror #occult

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising52 Comments

Happy Halloween from Bad Moon Rising! Are you ready for all the little ghosties and ghoulies who may knock at your door tonight? I’ve got my candy ready. We’ve reached the end of BMR, but it’s been a month full of fun conversations, new books, and maybe some new friends. But it’s not over quite yet. Today’s author writes horror – but when he watches a horror movie he makes sure his feet are on the couch and nearly covers his head with a blanket. Welcome Steve Stred!

Which urban legend scares you most?

I don’t know if any scare me now, but growing up I was always worried about swallowing chewing gum or stepping on a crack on a sidewalk. It’s funny how those little things kind of work into your brain and stay there.

Have you ever had a tarot card reading?

No, I actually haven’t, but would be up for having it done. I have had an incredibly strange experience with an Ouija board when I was younger, so I try to avoid them at all costs, but over the last few years they keep lurking closer and closer. It’s the oddest thing.

If you watch horror movies, are you the person who yells at the characters, covers your eyes, or falls asleep?

It’s very rare that I get a chance to watch any horror movies right now, just with having a 5 year old and our schedules, but when I do, I typically have a list of a few that look just insanely good – so those ones are always bound to scare the crap out of me and I watch them with my feet on the couch and the covers up to my nose.

Do you ever see figures in your peripheral vision?

I had facial reconstruction surgery on my right side when I was 21 or so. For a year I had no peripheral vision on that side, it was the weirdest thing. Would often make me feel ill. But when it started coming back, I always used to think someone was walking towards me and when I’d look – nobody. Never creeped me out but sure did make me antsy.

How do you celebrate when you finish writing a book?

As lame as it sounds – I start the next one. I don’t really have too much ‘down time.’ It may be that I’ll take time away from writing to go over edits and re-writes if a book is back from my editor or anything like that, but for the most part I try and stay full-steam ahead on whatever it is I’m working on and whatever it is that is after.

Which book have you read more than once?

I don’t typically re-read adult books (I re-read kids books a million times to my son right now!) but one book I’ve actually re-read a number of times over the years has been The Neverending Story by Michael Ende. Many people have watched the movie or even the sequels, but I personally love the book. The second half is just as magical as the first and my son is named after the Auryn medallion given to Atreyu to protect him on his journey and plays a prominent role in the second half.

If you could spend the day with another popular author, who would you choose?

Absolutely Andrew Pyper. If you’ve followed me on any of my social media pages you’ll know how much I love Andrew’s work and was even given permission to create an Official Archive of his work, which you can find at theandrewpyperarchives.ca

This book contains scenes of extreme violence and sexual content. Do not purchase this book if you are easily offended or require trigger warnings!

Beginning in October, 2019, Steve Stred released three of the darkest, most depraved novellas – Ritual, COMMUNION, and Sacrament.

These three novellas completed the ‘Father of Lies’ trilogy, telling the story of a disturbed man trying to open the cosmic gates and enter the Black Heavens to live forever. Inspired by Steve Stred’s research acquired while joining a real cult, the stories from the trilogy have already become favorites within the horror world.

Now, here for the first time, is the complete and definitive ‘The Complete Father of Lies Series.’

Featuring;

–          All three novellas

–          An exclusive foreword by Sonora Taylor

–          An exclusive essay by cover artist Mason McDonald

–          A bonus fourth story ‘Eucharist.’

–          ‘The Battle Raged On and On’ essay from the author, answering reader questions about the trilogy

Not to be missed, this Omnibus will be available in ebook, paperback and hardcover!
Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Father-Lies-Complete-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B09854197X/

Author Bio and Social Media

Steve Stred writes dark, bleak fiction.

Steve is the author of a number novels, novellas and collections.

He is proud to work with the Ladies of Horror Fiction to facilitate the Annual LOHF Writers Grant.

Steve has appeared alongside some of Horror’s heaviest hitters (Tim Lebbon, Gemma Amor, Adrian J. Walker, Ramsey Campbell) in some fantastic anthologies.

He is an active member of the HWA.

He is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife and son.

Website: stevestredauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter: @stevestred

Instagram: @stevestred

#BadMoonRising Friday Night Massacre by Michael Patrick Hicks #horror #occult

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising41 Comments

Today’s author has been featured most, if not every year at BMR. I’m a little behind on his books, but if you’re a horror fan, you’ve come to the right place – he has plenty of titles to choose from. In his neck of the woods, there’s certainly no shortage of urban legends. An annual parade is even held in honor of one of them. Welcome Michael Patrick Hicks!

Which urban legend scares you most?

Here in Michigan we have some nicely freaky urban legends, and even hold an annual parade for Nain Rouge! We have our own version of Melon Heads, those wonderfully deformed and possibly incestuous humanoids that might have escaped from an insane asylum and have turned cannibal while living in the woods. But the one that gets me is our local version of basically a sasquatch called the Michigan Dogman, and it’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s either a mutant that has the body of a human with the head of a dog, or a very large bipedal canine. And like the sasquatch, there’s (supposedly, anyway) all kinds of eyewitness reports of this creature going back to the 1800s. As for why this scares me the most? Well, first of all, I’m no fan of the woods, where this sucker would most likely be found, so imagine you’re out camping and this thing’s hungry and sniffing around. I’m also not really fond of large dogs and this sucker is reported pretty damn big, about the size of a gorilla or a bear, so… that’s a big ol’ nope for me.

Would you rather dunk for apples or carve a Jack o’ lantern?

Carve! Dunking for apples is gross! Unless you’re the first person to go and are able to get your apple, you may as well be sticking your head in sewage. And in the midst of a pandemic, with flu season on the way, and everybody catching colds?! No thank you. I’d much rather stab a pumpkin.

Candy apple or candy corn?

Oh, candy corn. 100%. I know they have a bad rap, but people are just haters. Those little suckers are pure sugar, which is what makes them tasty. When I was a kid I would eat them by the layer, starting from the bottom because the white tip was my favorite part. I may even still do that as an adult, somehow still convinced that the layers have different flavors…

Would you and your main character get along?

For the most part, I think so. At least I’d like to think so! They might disagree, depending on which book we’re drawing from. And god, how awkward would that be to not even be able to get along with somebody I made up?

If you decided to write a spinoff of a side character, who would you choose?

Oooh, good question. Technically, I already did when I wrote my sci-fi novel, Emergence. Where Convergence focused on a memory thief, the sequel put his daughter, Mesa, in the central role. In my cosmic horror Salem Hawley series, there’s a character that appears in Book Two, Borne of the Deep, by name of LeMarché that could conceivably have the most spinoff potential. Hmmmm….

Which book have you read more than once?

Stephen King’s IT is one of the rare handful of titles I’ve read more than once. I’m not a big re-reader, but it was also the first audiobook I ever listened to, many years after having read a hardcover copy 20-some years prior. I expect some will argue that listening to an audiobook isn’t the same as reading, but… I don’t really care, and I’ve decided it counts as a reread, so there! 😛

Night of the Demons meets Olympus Has Fallen in this novel of White House horror from “one of the supreme rulers of delivering unsettling, gore-filled bursts of violence” (Steve Stred, author of Ritual).

After succumbing to a deadly virus and incurring the wrath of voters in the 2020 election, the President of the United States makes a deathbed deal with the devil.

Imbued with supernatural power, President Tyler Coleridge refuses to surrender office after being defeated by his rival candidate and rings in the New Year with a White House bloodbath.

After turning against the press and his own Secret Service detail in a violent display of savagery, it’s up to the lone survivor of Coleridge’s protective detail, Mike Hutchinson, to put a stop to the U.S. president’s reign of madness before the nation is utterly crippled.

Inspired by recent events, Friday Night Massacre is a splatterpunk horror action novel in the grindhouse fashion, with a dash of comic book sensibility.

Friday Night Massacre contains graphic content that may be upsetting to some and is recommended for readers of extreme horror.

Purchase Link

Available in print, Kindle ebook, and audiobook

Purchase: http://mybook.to/FridayNightMassacre

ABOUT MICHAEL PATRICK HICKS

Michael Patrick Hicks is the author of several horror books, including the Salem Hawley series and Friday Night Massacre. His stories have appeared in more than a dozen publications from Crystal Lake Publishing, Death’s Head Press, Off Limits Press, and Silver Shamrock Publishing, among others. His debut novel, Convergence, was an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Finalist in science fiction. He also co-hosts Staring Into The Abyss, a weekly podcast focused on all things horror, and is a member of the Horror Writers Association.

Michael lives in Michigan with his wife and two children. In between compulsively buying books and adding titles that he does not have time for to his Netflix queue, he is hard at work on his next story.

Social Media

Website: http://www.michaelpatrickhicks.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mikeh5856

Staring Into the Abyss Podcast: https://staringintotheabyss.libsyn.com/

#BadMoonRising Of Witches… by Steve Stred #horror #occult

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising29 Comments

If you’re a witch fan or just looking for some creepy Halloween tales, this author’s collection of short stories and illustrations could be just what you need. Read below about his harrowing experience with a Ouija board after the tragic death of a friend and why he’s scarred for life by the Tristar Pictures music and Pegasus. Welcome Steve Stred!

Has a movie or book scared you so much you couldn’t sleep?  Which one?

When I was younger we had an unconventional ‘Christmas’ movie that we’d watch each and every Christmas. The Monster Squad. I don’t know why that ended up being our Christmas movie, but it did and when I first watched it I was maybe 6 or 7 and it scared me so bad. Each year, I would be petrified of it and it gave me a lifelong fear of Werewolves. Additionally, for many years after first watching the movie, I was terrified when the Tristar music and Pegasus would begin before any movie.

Would you rather use a Ouija board or participate in a séance?

I’ve actually used a Ouija board before and had a very uncomfortable experience. Where I grew up, a friend died in a horrible car accident. After her memorial a bunch of us were at a different friend’s house. We were having a remembrance sleep over/party for her. Someone decided to try and ask the deceased some questions with the Ouija board. We all uncomfortably laughed, but later on the board was brought out and they started messing with it. I was laying on the couch (trying to snuggle up with a crush!) when I felt a pressure on my chest and infinite sorrow. I began to cry uncontrollably, but could talk just fine. I told my freaked out friends what was happening and they were unable to help me get off the couch. It was as though I had been super glued to the material. After another few minutes of this, someone took the board and put it somewhere and poof, I was free to move again and didn’t feel any of the sadness I had felt. I don’t think I’ll ever mess with another one again.

As for a séance, I think it would be a unique experience, but only if it was with a group of people who were taking it completely seriously.

If you were in a horror movie, would you rather have a loaded gun or a car that wouldn’t break down?

I think part of this is situational. I mean if a car won’t break down, get in and drive, yeah? Leave Mr. Leatherface in the dust? But if you were trapped in a house, a gun would be much more efficient for your survival than a car parked outside.

Do you write to music?

Absolutely. Usually, I’ll have 2 or 3 albums specifically for each thing I’m writing. I listen to a lot of different music, but for writing sessions I’ll only listen to those specific works that make up the backdrop for emotional leverage of each release. For ‘Scott: A Wagon Buddy Tale’ which is the sequel to ‘Wagon Buddy’ I listened to Tom Petty and Arcade Fire. Currently for book three of my ‘Father of Lies’ trilogy, I’m listening to a lot of SepticFlesh and Dimmu Borgir. So, it really just depends on what I’m writing as to what I’m playing.

Describe your writing space.

BORING! Haha! Is that accurate? I do 99% of my writing at work on my lunch break, so it’s a computer on a desk with a fan beside it. Tada! I also do some very, very, very rare writing on my phone. So, it’s a Samsung and that’s really it. Not a very amazing spot like I’ve seen a lot of people’s set up!

What are you working on now?

Oh lord. What a loaded question! Well, “Of Witches…” just came out September 4th. So, that was my newest collection of 8 short stories about witches. It also featured 15 pieces of stunning art by Miranda Crites! I’m prepping my last release of the year, ‘Scott: A Wagon Buddy Tale,’ for its arrival. This is a sequel to my release ‘Wagon Buddy.’

Otherwise, I’m working on Books 2 and 3 respectively of my ‘Sermons of Sorrow Trilogy,’ Book 3 of my ‘Father of Lies Trilogy,’ my ultra-limited release ‘456 Blatchford Drive,’ my novel ‘Mastodon,’ the horror-western I’m co-writing with David Sodergren, and three other releases that I can’t share any more details on!

I’m always busy working on stuff!

“Of Witches…” the newest collection by dark fiction author, Steve Stred, brings together eight stories all revolving around one of history’s great curiosities – the witch.

Steve Stred will once again take you into the deepest, darkest places.

Accompanied by fifteen stunning photographs/illustrations, as well as an amazing foreword from Miranda Crites, this collection is sure to quench your crone thirst.

Within this collection you’ll find tales about;

-A watery reunion

-A story shared in a bar

-Letters left after a family member dies

–A chance encounter while camping

-Three sisters who live on the outskirts of town

-The events that follow the loss of a loved one

-Strange occurrences at a property

-A teenager starting to work at the family business

“Of Witches…” is sure to become both a Halloween classic as well as a collection classic.

Purchase Link

Amazon

Author Bio

Steve Stred writes dark, bleak horror fiction.

Steve is the author of a number novels, novellas and collections.

He is proud to work with the Ladies of Horror Fiction to facilitate the Annual LOHF Writers Grant.

Steve has appeared alongside some of Horror’s heaviest hitters in some fantastic anthologies.

Steve Stred is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife, his son and their dog OJ.

Social Media

Website: stevestredauthor.wordpress.com

Twitter: @stevestred

Instagram: @stevestred

#BadMoonRising Tales From the Annexe – 7 Stories From the Herbert West Series by Audrey Driscoll #horror #occult #shortstories

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising51 Comments

Some readers aren’t quite prepared to jump into novel-length horror, but they can handle the torture scares in shorter spurts. Today’s featured book of short stories checks off that box. Read on to find out which chilling book has stuck with this author since the age of twelve. Welcome Audrey Driscoll!

Would you rather sleep in a coffin for one night or spend the night in a haunted house?

A nice new, padded coffin in a coffin showroom would be okay, as long as the lid was left open. If it had to be closed, or if the coffin had been previously occupied, I might just go for the haunted house. On the other hand, spending time in a closed coffin might be a useful experience for writing a horror story.

Has a movie or book scared you so much you couldn’t sleep?  Which one?

Yes, terribly! When I was about 12, school kids could order books from a company called Scholastic. One of the books I bought was called Stories of the Supernatural, and one of the stories was “The Willows” by Algernon Blackwood. It’s about two guys who take a canoe trip down the Danube River. They camp in a place where the river flows among many small islands overgrown by willow bushes. Seriously weird things happen. The terrifying thing about this story is its subtlety. It hints at the horror rather than describing it in any concrete way. It’s not a ghost or a monster, but Something Else. And there’s a lot about the experience of fear and the narrator’s awareness of it as it develops from vague unease to full-on terror. I was a nervous wreck for months after I read it.

Would you rather use a Ouija board or participate in a séance?

I’ve never wanted to participate in a séance because I just assume they’re faked, but I have used a Ouija setup, decades ago. It wasn’t a board, though, but a homemade arrangement. Each letter and number was written on a separate small piece of paper, and the paper bits were randomly arranged in a circle. They were not in order. We used a glass instead of a planchette. When everyone placed a finger on the glass, it skittered around and spelled things out. While I can’t remember what the message was, the fact that actual words were spelled out was so creepy we never tried it again.

Do you write to music?

I have done, to the point where the music found its way into the writing, and even exercised an undue influence on it. Both those things happened to my first novel, The Friendship of Mortals. There is a scene in which characters attend a performance of J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations. And listening to Loreena McKennitt’s album The Mask and Mirror while I was writing, especially “The Dark Night of the Soul,” nudged the plot in an unintended direction. Then there’s my not-yet-published novel about a young woman’s experience with Franz Schubert’s gloriously gloomy song cycle Winterreise. Listening to that music compelled me to write about it.

What was the hardest scene to write in your featured book?

In one of the stories in Tales from the Annexe, the main character is physically immobilized. In another, mobility is limited by illness. Action has to happen in memory, imagination, or hallucination. Since I haven’t experienced situations like these, writing them strained my imagination engine to the utmost. I hope it and I succeeded, but only readers will be able to say for sure.

Which comes first for you – plot or characters?

Characters, definitely. I think that’s why my novels are slow burns; I get too involved with my characters and have a hard time pushing them along through the plot and making them suffer. Sometimes plot ideas of the “what if” type go nowhere because the inspirations don’t come with equally good characters.

Seven stories from the world of Audrey Driscoll’s Herbert West Series, followed by seven other tales of illusions, delusions, and mysteries on the edges of logic.

Discover Herbert West’s connections to Egypt, and how a dead man can help solve a mystery.

Share Charles Milburn’s ruminations as he explores another dimension of his friendship with Herbert.

Experience the horror of a long-anticipated revenge.

Sample the treats on offer from the ice cream truck from Hell.

Ride along with a dad who abandons his ten-year-old son in the woods where something howls.

Find out why a woman paints her bedroom a very special colour.

Accompany fifteen-year-old Ann as she tries to prove she belongs to the glamorous family on the other side of town.

These and seven other curious encounters may be found in this annexe to the ordinary.

Buy Links for Tales from the Annexe:

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Amazon Canada

Amazon Australia

Author Bio

Three quarters of the way through a career as a cataloguing librarian, Audrey Driscoll discovered she was actually a writer. Since the turn of the millennium, she has written and published five novels and a short story collection. She negotiates with plants, juggles words, and communes with fictitious characters in Victoria, British Columbia. Her opinions on gardening, writing, and things that bug or delight her, along with information about her books, may be found on her blog at https://audreydriscoll.com

Social Media

Blog: https://audreydriscoll.com

Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Audrey-Driscoll/e/B00J7X7QVC

Amazon.uk:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audrey-Driscoll/e/B00J7X7QVC Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4202146.Audrey_Driscoll

The Last Christmas: A Repairman Jack Novel by F. Paul Wilson #bookreview #supernatural #thriller #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews7 Comments

Jack is back.

Wilson never said he was through with Repairman Jack. He said he was through turning in a new novel every year. He also said when a story came along that was right for Jack, he’d write it.

The Last Christmas is that story.

It’s late December between Ground Zero and Fatal Error, a winter of discontent for Jack who’s perhaps spending too much time hanging at Julio’s. An old contact, Edward Burkes, convinces him to take on a missing-person fix. As usual, nothing is as it seems, and the missing person isn’t exactly a person. In fact, it’s like nothing anyone has ever seen.

And in the middle of all this, the mysterious Madame de Medici hires him to safeguard a valuable object. Simple, right?

Not even close.

Yep, Jack is back and, as usual, weird trouble is on his heels.

Many years ago, a friend loaned me Conspiracies, the third Repairman Jack novel. I was immediately hooked and scrambled to read the first two in the series.  Since then, I’ve remained a loyal fan and have read every book, as well as Repairman Jack: The Early Years.  I was distraught when I’d believed the last book of the series had been written a few years ago – so imagine my excitement when I saw a new Jack book on NetGalley!

Repairman Jack is hands down one of the coolest characters I’ve ever read, and it was such a treat to hang out again with him, Abe, Gia, Vicky, Julio, and Parabellum again.  This latest “fix” involves some genetic engineering, but still ties in with the overall arc of the series.  Jack using his powers of “persuasion”, sweet moments with Gia and Vicky, discussions over food with Abe, nail-biting close calls – it’s all here.

This series is classified as horror – not the gore variety – but closer to supernatural occult.  If that’s even a category.  If you enjoy intelligent MCs, otherworldly themes, exciting action sequences, and memorable characters, look no further.  Repairman Jack will always be at the top of my list of favorite books.  Jack is back!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#BadMoonRising: Ritual by Steve Stred #horror #occult #novella

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising18 Comments

Today’s author is petrified of the woods in the middle of the night – so naturally, that’s the setting of many of his books.  Maybe that’s one way to conquer your fears?  Welcome Steve Stred!

Would you rather be part of the X-Files team or Ghostbusters?

X-Files 100%. I absolutely love the show and I’d want to know all of the cool conspiracy theory stuff. I love watching alien related stuff or reading about it. I really hope we someday can answer the question – “Are we alone?” I personally think the answer is no, and I’d love to see that be correct. Unless of course we only find out because they’ve come to destroy our planet!

Would you rather be locked in a haunted insane asylum or lost in the woods with a killer on the loose?

This question actually made the rounds on Twitter recently. I’ll take a haunted insane asylum any day of the week over the woods. If you’ve read any of my stuff, you’ll know my connection to the woods. I’d rather do some urban exploration with some ghosts or ghouls than dealing with a killer, bears, wolves, cougars, werewolves or Bigfoot any day of the week.

Would you rather be abducted by aliens or a serial killer?

Another easy one. Abducted by aliens. Chances are you’re going to live and it’s highly likely that you’ll not remember much of it until a bright light gets flashed in your eyes or something triggers your experience. A serial killer, at the least, the very least, is going to remove a bunch of your body. So you’ll be scarred, maimed and in pain for the rest of your life. More likely though, they’ll kill you.

What is your favorite cover of all your books?  Why?

I chose this question because of how difficult it is. I’ve been blessed to have some really, really awesome covers. But I think I need to go with my latest collection release ‘The Night Crawls In.’ Aesthetically, it’s pretty much me as a writer. I’ve worked with Mason McDonald on a dozen covers now. We have this connection that is just outstanding. We met through Twitter and hit it off and have become great friends, so I think that helps. We’re both Canadian, like the same bands, books etc. So I can send him an idea and he’ll get something back that’s spot on. With ‘The Night Crawls In’ it has this amazing forest scene, but if you look closer you’ll see that the cover is made out of boards, almost like an old cabin in the woods has been torn down and repurposed and painted on. Just love it.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in the same setting, where would you choose?

I have so many releases out that are set in the woods, and I’m petrified of the woods in the middle of the night, but I’d have to suggest somewhere wooded that had a staggering amount of Bigfoot sightings/reports. I’ve been intrigued about Sasquatches since I was a small child, so I’d love to take the time and hike into the wilderness in the Pacific North West and live there as one with nature.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

Too many! The ones I can talk about – unpublished; Piece of Me (coming Dec 2019), Scott, The One That Knows No Fear, The Window in the Ground (all coming 2020). Then I have four other works on the go that I’d like to try and get out next year but we’ll see. I typically have between 5 and 10 in some form at any given time!

Meet Brad.

A quiet, hardworking man who goes about his daily routine with joy.
He works as a telemarketer, trying this best to sell poorly made, over-priced products to the unsuspecting people on the other end of the phone.

Brad doesn’t mind though, its a means to an end.

Life’s about to change for Brad. Now that Father has anointed him the Chosen one, the one to open the gates and allow them to flock into the Black Heavens.

Eternity awaits.

But is Brad ready to perform on the big day?

“’Ritual’ is a fast and thrilling dive into the depraved mind of a man and his dogma. It draws you into the horrors of a mysterious cult, and doesn’t let go until the very last page. I loved this story.” -Sonora Taylor, author of “Without Condition” and “Little Paranoias: Stories”

Purchase Link

Amazon

Bio

Steve Stred writes dark, bleak horror fiction.

Steve is the author of the novels Invisible & The Stranger, the novellas The Girl Who Hid in the Trees, Wagon Buddy, Yuri and Jane: the 816 Chronicles and two collections of short stories; Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery and Left Hand Path: 13 More Tales of Black Magick, and the dark poetry collection Dim the Sun.

On September 1st, 2019 his second collection of dark poetry and drabbles called The Night Crawls In will arrive. This release was specifically created to help fund the 1st Annual LOHF Writers Grant.

Steve is also a voracious reader, reviewing everything he reads and submitting the majority of his reviews to be featured on Kendall Reviews.

Steve Stred is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife, his son and their dog OJ.

Social Media

Website: stevestredauthor.wordpress.com
Instagram: /stevestred
Twitter: twitter.com/stevestred
Facebook: facebook.com/groups/SteveStredReadersGroup/

#BadMoonRising: The Resurrectionists (The Salem Hawley Series #1) by Michael Patrick Hicks #horror #occult

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising11 Comments

I’ve read several books by today’s author, and he can take you to some dark, uncomfortable places.  And that’s just one of the reasons I enjoy his books so much.  Somehow I missed his newest release – not sure how with such a stunning cover – but it’s going in my TBR.  Welcome Michael Patrick Hicks!

Would you rather walk through a haunted graveyard at midnight or spend the night in a haunted, abandoned house?

I’m not much of a believer in the supernatural, so walking through a (supposedly) haunted graveyard doesn’t seem like too big of a chore to me! If I had to spend the night in an abandoned house, I’d be more worried about my lack of a wi-fi or cell phone signal. I figure if I just have to talk a quick walk, that’s not much of a biggie, and I can go home and sleep in my own bed.

Would you rather be a vampire or a werewolf? 

Vampire! I’m not a fan of shopping for new clothes and don’t want to risk ruining my favorite outfits. Plus, I’m not a big fan of losing control and being amnesiac (or worse, remembering what I did as a werewolf). Vamping out seems relatively easy, right? I get to sleep all day. Cool cool.

Would you rather be part of the X-Files team or Ghostbusters?

X-Files! I love Ghostbusters, don’t get me wrong, but I’d love nothing more than to team up with Mulder and Scully. I’d probably side with her more often than not, but I would absolutely relish each and every crazy theory and conspiracy Mulder comes up with.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a year while writing a book that took place in the same setting, where would you choose?

Alaska! My wife and I took an Alaskan cruise for our anniversary some time ago, and I’ve been itching to get back there. It’s such a beautiful region, and I’m a big fan of arctic terror, so this one’s a no-brainer for me. Put me in view of the mountains and glaciers, let me go wild with an Alaskan-set creature feature, and I’m in heaven!

What is your favorite cover of all your books?  Why?

My favorite is easily the cover Kealan Patrick Burke put together for The Resurrectionists. I love the tone it sets and the imagery is absolutely fantastic. I didn’t have much of a conception for what the cover should be, but as soon as Kealan sent me his first swing at the artwork, I was completely blown away. I don’t have any art prints of my covers, but this is one that I absolutely need to get printed and framed.

What are you working on now?

A few things, actually! I’m working on a short story for submission to an upcoming anthology, getting the drafts for books two and three in the Salem Hawley series ready for editing, as well as writing a new full-length novel that’s occupied my thoughts for a few years now. After committing a violent crime, a small group of robbers find themselves lost in the haunted woods of Northern Michigan. They’re pursued by not just the police but the ghosts of the past. It’s got a bit of police procedural elements to it, along with some occultism and, hopefully, some good scares! Like The Resurrectionists, it’s actually based on some real-life incidents that occurred in Michigan and a few local urban legends. At the time of this writing, I’m about 20,000 words into it, and I feel like I’ve got a long ways to go before I hit the head. There’s a lot of ground to cover in this one.

Having won his emancipation after fighting on the side of the colonies during the American Revolution, Salem Hawley is a free man. Only a handful of years after the end of British rule, Hawley finds himself drawn into a new war unlike anything he has ever seen.

New York City is on the cusp of a new revolution as the science of medicine advances, but procuring bodies for study is still illegal. Bands of resurrectionists are stealing corpses from New York cemeteries, and women of the night are disappearing from the streets, only to meet grisly ends elsewhere.



After a friend’s family is robbed from their graves, Hawley is compelled to fight back against the wave of exhumations plaguing the Black cemetery. Little does he know, the theft of bodies is key to far darker arts being performed by the resurrectionists. If successful, the work of these occultists could spell the end of the fledgling American Experiment… and the world itself.



The Resurrectionists, the first book in the Salem Hawley series, is a novella of historical cosmic horror from the author of Broken Shells and Mass Hysteria.

“The Resurrectionists is a stunning achievement ─ an effective historical novel AND a brutal horror story. Salem Hawley is a fantastic protagonist I look forward to following in future stories.” – John Hornor Jacobs, author of The Sea Dreams It Is the Sky: A Novella of Cosmic Horror

“Gritty, grand and grotesque, The Resurrectionists is a mind-bending, Lovecraftian myth set in the murky underbelly of post-Revolutionary War Manhattan. It played out in my imagination in a palette of reds and browns like a lush Hammer horror film. Salem Hawley is a riveting avenger, and I’m eager to follow him on further macabre adventures.” – Chris Sorensen, author of The Nightmare Room

“As terrifying and action-packed as a slasher flick, but also saturated with literary merit at its core, exploring social issues like racism, classism, and the ramifications of medical experimentation. It was such a fun, provocative read. I can’t wait to see what direction he steers the plot in the second book.” – Jeremy Hepler, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of The Boulevard Monster 

Purchase Link 

Buy The Resurrectionists or read in Kindle Unlimited at https://www.amazon.com/Resurrectionists-Salem-Hawley-Book-ebook/dp/B07S3RWLKN

 Bio and Social Media

MICHAEL PATRICK HICKS is the author of Broken Shells: A Subterranean Horror Novella, Mass Hysteria, an Audiobook Listeners Choice Awards Horror Finalist, and Convergence, an Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award Finalist. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association and the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers.

In addition to his own works of original fiction, he has written for the online publications Audiobook Reviewer and Graphic Novel Reporter, and has previously worked as a freelance journalist and news photographer in Metro Detroit.

Michael lives in Michigan with his wife and two children. In between compulsively buying books and adding titles that he does not have time for to his Netflix queue, he is hard at work on his next story..

To stay up to date on his latest releases, join his newsletter at http://bit.ly/1H8slIg

Website: http://www.michaelpatrickhicks.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authormichaelpatrickhicks
Twitter: @MikeH5856

#BadMoonRising: The Mind’s Plague by Morgan K. Tanner #horror #occult #shortstories

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising10 Comments

Today’s author offers a compelling reason why he’d choose to be abducted by aliens over a serial killer – totally makes sense to me.  On the cover of his featured book, The Mind’s Plague, is his own terror-stricken face.  How cool is that?  Welcome Morgan K. Tanner!

Would you rather spend a night in The Overlook Hotel with Jack Torrance or be in the high school gym during prom with Carrie?

The Shining is one of my favourite films of all time and it still never fails to unnerve me with its creepy vibe and claustrophobic atmosphere. That being said, I’m pretty sure I could survive one night in there with crazy Jack, especially if he’s only limping after me with his axe. Plus I know that the cupboard in the kitchen’s a good place to hide (if I’d fit, though), and I could copy Danny’s excellent tactic of disguising his footprints in the snow. And when I’d finally outrun him I could enjoy some quality time riding on those 70s carpets on my little pedal bike.

Would you rather be abducted by aliens or a serial killer?

I’m of the belief that if aliens really wanted to harm us they’d have either done it already or would simply spread a plague-like disease that would wipe us out in no time at all. So being abducted wouldn’t frighten me that much (he says!). I suppose it would be interesting to see life from another planet, and their spaceship would be awesome, I’d imagine. It certainly beats a serial killer because I’ve read enough books and watched enough movies to know how that would ultimately end. They usually aren’t very nice people.

Would you rather be part of the X-Files team or Ghostbusters?

Ghostbusters all the way! Not that the characters would be a laugh-a-minute, and would probably spend long nights talking about science and other ‘intellectual’ stuff. I think Mulder would get a bit heavy after a while; he’s not exactly brimming with charisma. Although hanging out with Scully may have its benefits. Plus, if I was a Ghostbuster I’d get to wear a proton pack and slide down that sweet fireman’s pole whenever I wanted. The young me would be ever so jealous.

What is your favorite cover of all your books?  Why?

My debut novella, An Army of Skin, has such an awesome cover that really encapsulates the tone of the book, I think. M.R. Tapia was responsible for it; I’d submitted my manuscript to him originally and he emailed me back with three covers he’d ‘doodled’. When I saw what eventually became the cover, I was blown away. So much so I now have the design tattooed on my arm.

I must mention the cover of my short story collection, The Mind’s Plague and Other Bites of Brutality, if only for the fact that the strange, terror-stricken face in the TV screen is none other than my beautifully handsome face. There was absolutely no Photoshop involved, either.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?

I haven’t really been at the writing game long enough to have lots of unfinished books; I try to keep going to the end. There are a few short stories that still haven’t seen the light of day, although they probably never will as they are, well, not up to scratch. I do have an 80000 word novel that I am planning to re-edit and do with something with, either self-publish again or submit it somewhere. I haven’t looked at it in about 3 years – intentionally – so we’ll see how it holds up when I eventually do.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m writing a short story about a burglar who is tied up and tortured by the man who’s house he breaks into, but by the time this is posted I hope to have finished this one. I’m also writing what was a short story but now seems to developing into a novella (at least) about a haunted house. But instead of the house being old and derelict, it’s a new build property, so hopefully it’s a different take on the genre. There’s not a bricked up hole or creaky floorboard in sight. We’ll see how things pan out, though.

Three friends search for an infamous internet video of an urban legend with devastating consequences; a passionate drummer joins the band of his dreams, or perhaps his nightmares; a man tries to find fame in a world where the mundane call the shots; and a grieving father loses his grip on reality.

These ten stories delve into a world of darkness and suffering, where the terrors are more vivid than they may first appear. Blood is spilt, minds are destroyed, as madness ultimately reigns victorious.

Purchase Link

Amazon

Bio

Morgan K Tanner is a writer, drummer, and golfist currently residing in the English countryside. The idyllic surroundings make it an ideal place to write, drum, and hide the bodies. The busy sound of the typewriter is perfect to drown out the hum of the antiquated torture equipment.

 

When not writing or inflicting pain and suffering on his numerous victims, he indulges himself in all things horror and metal.

 He is the author of An Army of Skin, and The Mind’s Plague and Other Bites of Brutality.

 You can praise or indeed abuse him by visiting http://www.morganktanner.com or find him on Twitter @morgantanner666.

Social Media

http://www.morganktanner.com/
Twitter @morgantanner666
Instagram @morganktanner

#BadMoonRising: Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery by Steve Stred #horror #occult #giveaway

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising18 Comments

The winner of an ebook of Frostbitten is Hugh Roberts!  Congrats to Hugh and thanks to all who commented to enter.

Happy Halloween, and welcome to the last day of Bad Moon Rising!  As a treat (I promise it’s not a trick), today’s author will give away an e-book copy of his book to a random commenter determined by random.org.  We end this fourth year of Bad Moon with yet another testimony about evil Ouija boards.  If any of you kids (or adults) are thinking about picking one up, just read these interviews, and I promise you’ll rethink that decision.  Welcome Steve Stred!

You’re in a horror movie.  Are you the final person, the first to die, the comic relief, the skeptic, the smart one, or the killer?

I am both the final person but also the comic relief. I am a pretty sarcastic person and I spend a lot of time making little comments and quips.  Just ask my family.  I find them hilarious at least!  I would also do whatever it took to live.  So last man standing.  I can always entertain myself.

Vampires, ghosts, werewolves, or zombies – which would you least want to meet in a dark alley?

100% I would not want to meet werewolves. Other than fog, nothing scares me more in the world than werewolves.  If a werewolf was stalking me through a foggy alley, even worse.  I mean vampires are scary and sure ghosts and zombies suck in general but werewolves are freaking werewolves.  Giant wolf-men/women who want to rip you apart and can run really fast, jump really far and are really strong.  And your only defense is hoping you have silver or silver bullets around?  Not a chance.

Have you ever played with a Ouija board?

I actually have. I won’t get into too many details as I don’t want anyone identified who was there and who wouldn’t want this experience shared, but a group of us played with a Ouija board.  I was laying on my stomach, on the couch, half playing around, half admiring someone, when something happened in the room.  I was pinned to the couch by a really strong force and began to cry uncontrollably.  Incredibly unsettling and weird experience that I can’t explain.  I was in my early teens when it happened.

How do you develop your plots and characters?

I develop my plot/characters through my draft process. I typically have a fully thought out short story/novella/novel which I then point form on a word doc.  A lot of my stuff I write my first draft using the old trusty pen and paper approach.  Then I transfer to the computer and evolve as I go.  Ultimately I usually have thought about it so many times that it is just regurgitating what is in my brain to the paper.  I will normally have the title worked out when I start writing and I very rarely change the title once I get going.  I will get some feedback from my beta readers and street team and adapt as needed.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love spending time with my wife, my son and our dog. My son recently turned 2 so it’s a very exciting time filled with many tests of patience and frustrations ha-ha!  So it’s amazing watching him grow and develop.  I also spend a lot of time reading both with my son but also on my kindle.  I was a staunch advocate of physical books for many years, but since our son arrived the only way I can read is on my kindle so I have softened my beliefs.  It fills me with so much joy that he loves books so much, so I hope one day (even if he doesn’t like what I write) he is proud that I have books released.

What are you working on now?

I am always working on a bajillion things! Currently working on my second full length novel The Stranger, as well as a third novel, untitled as of now.  I am also working on my third collection of short stories, tentatively called The Night Crept In.  I have a neat compilation/novella on the go with two other writers, which I hope will see the light of day, two more of my own novellas, and another novella with another writer.  And to top it all off, I write kids-action adventure on the side for my nieces and nephews, so will be releasing some more of those things.  I haven’t officially announced it yet, but those will now be released under a pen name to reduce any confusion for readers.

Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery repackages Author Steve Stred’s first two releases, here for you, in one easy to digest offering.  Taking his first short story (For Balder Walks) and his first short story anthology (The Fence: and Other Sordid Tales), and combining them, Steve has delivered a devastating mix of styles to truly work its way into your psyche.

12 Hymns of Misery is built in a similar manner to your favourite music album.

From the intricate, haunting openers of For Balder Walks and Jim, to the bridge section of creepy, action filled stories such as The Fence and Time Out Noose, coming-of-age tales like Edge of the Woods and Virtues of the Beast, culminating with the crescendo of the tortured closers; Old Man and the Alley, the reader will find themselves transported to a dozen nightmare filled landscapes, all sure to haunt the reader for years to come.

“Edge of the Woods is a dark little coming-of-age tale, bringing me right back to my childhood days on the playground.  Just the right amount of creepy, this one will leave you wanting more!”

Justin M. Woodward, Author of TAMER ANIMALS & Candy

“Time Out Noose is DAMN good!”

J.Z. Foster, Author of The Wicked Ones & Mind Wreck

Buy Link

https://www.amazon.com/Frostbitten-Hymns-Misery-Steve-Stred-ebook/dp/B07GLBGWPT/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1536870670&sr=8-6&keywords=steve+stred

Author Bio

Steve Stred is an up-an-coming Dark Horror author.  Steve is the author of the novel Invisible, the novellas Wagon Buddy, Yuri and Jane: the 816 Chronicles and two collections of short stories; Frostbitten: 12 Hymns of Misery and Left Hand Path: 13 More Tales of Black Magick.

Steve also has a number of works on the go and enjoys all this horror, occult, supernatural and paranormal.

Steve Stred is based in Edmonton, AB, Canada and lives with his wife, his son and their dog Oj.

Social Media

Website: stevestredauthor.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/stevestredauthor
Instagram: /stevestred
Twitter: twitter.com/stevestred

#BadMoonRising: On Satan’s Island by Douglas Knight #horror #occult

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising26 Comments

If being shipwrecked on an island with Satan worshipers is your worst nightmare (or maybe it is now, after reading this), you’re in the right place – today’s featured author will let you know how that scenario plays out in his book, On Satan’s Island.  He also stands with the majority of us:  Ouija boards = bad ju ju.  Welcome Douglas Knight!

You’re in a horror movie.  Are you the final person, the first to die, the comic relief, the skeptic, the smart one, or the killer?

 I am probably the comic relief. Not purposely, I just come by it naturally.

Vampires, ghosts, werewolves, or zombies – which would you least want to meet in a dark alley?

I think I could fend off a zombie. I might tolerate being a werewolf running free and breezy through dark alleys. “I’m not afraid of no ghosts.” Living forever as undead has definite draw backs, so I chose vampire as least want to meet.

Have you ever played with a Ouija board?

Yes, back in grade school, but it was so eerie and strange, I vowed never to do it, again.

How do you develop your plots and characters?

I begin with character development by determining their major goals in life and what interesting conflicts and obstacles may deter or alter those goals. I also try to develop the characters with physical characteristics, back stories, and beliefs. The original plot is constructed along the lines of a three act play. I like to create major episodes first and then complete the rest of the storyline. Many of my stories also include research into cultural idealogical, and geographical influences affecting characters and plot.

What tools do you feel are must-haves for writers?

I believe a writer needs to have a love for words. A writer benefits by reading other works. I think another good tool for a writer is to be a people watcher and a good listener. It helps to be an excellent critical thinker and open to others arguments and conclusions.

What are you working on now?

I have several things started, but have decided to focus on a novel about people in the music and movie business. I have several thousand words written about a police adventure. I spent several hours mapping out a follow up to On Satan’s Island.


Ivy Davis’ special Australian honeymoon becomes a horror when she, her husband, and a Tongan acquaintance survive shipwreck on an exotic uncharted island possessed by Satan worshipers. Among their many perilous ordeals is the decision of how much to trust Bobbi, a strange, mystical female who offers to help them escape the demonic forces of the island and return to civilization.

Purchase Link

Amazon

Author Bio

Doug Knight has published three contemporary fiction novels, A River Bend, Through the Valley of the Shadow, and On Satan’s Island. His novels contain adventure, romance, suspense and a study of the challenges of this life’s journey.

Doug Knight tries not to think for the reader but wants his readers to form their own conclusions about meaning and purpose and character motives.

All three novels can be found on Amazon and Kindle. You can learn more about Doug Knight and his books on Amazon. He also has a blog page at kingservant.com, a Doug Knight Author page, and a Twitter site @dugnmis.