HORRIFIC SCRIBES PRESENTS: INVASIONS OF WORLD, HOME, BODY, AND MIND

BOOK LAUNCH! The first e-book anthology from the HORRIFIC SCRIBES archive is now available through Amazon, Kobo, Smashwords and many other fine retailers! Coming soon to even more!

Invaders threaten us from above, below, within, and beyond. Not scared enough yet? This anthology will help! From the Horrific Scribes web archive of original short fiction (and some poetry) come 24 selections that involve horrific invasions. Only 23 are short stories--one is a group of poems--and that's not the only way the book cover deceives you. None of the stories involves UFOs attacking Earth. 

Horrific Scribes seeks "the provocative, scary, and strange," and these works offer a wide array of perspectives on invasion, many of them unfamiliar. They stretch and cross the boundaries of horror, sci-fi, and other speculative fiction with dark edges. 

Settle in and let your imagination be overrun by the invasions conjured by Phoebe Barr, Jim Best, Amanda M. Blake, Jon Clendaniel, David Corse, Richard Dansky, John Davis, Laura DeHaan, T. Fox Dunham, H.J. Dutton, Joseph Hirsch, Tom Johnstone, Kasimma, Emmanuel Komen, Leonardo J. Lamanna, Steven Mathes, Thomas C. Mavroudis, Trisha Ridinger McKee, Eric Nash, M. Brandon Robbins, Cassandra O'Sullivan Sachar, Sydney Sackett, K. Thompson, and Fendy S. Tulodo.

https://www.amazon.com/Horrific-Scribes-Presents-Invasions-Anthologies-ebook/dp/B0G2FM82LC

https://horrificscribblings.com/shop-page/

Free Ghost Story for Christmas: The Kit Bag by Algernon Blackwood

 

The Kit Bag 

by Algernon Blackwood

In the grand tradition of the Christmas ghost story, here is a seasonal tale from one of the greats, Algernon Blackwood (certainly one of my favorite horror writers). For more fantastic classic gothic and ghost stories for the holidays, visit The Classic Horror Blog.

Or find the audiobook version here or here.

======================

When the words ‘Not Guilty’ sounded through the crowded courtroom that dark December afternoon, Arthur Wilbraham, the great criminal KC, and leader for the triumphant defense, was represented by his junior; but Johnson, his private secretary, carried the verdict across to his chambers like lightning.

‘It’s what we expected, I think,’ said the barrister, without emotion; ‘and, personally, I am glad the case is over.’

There was no particular sign of pleasure that his defence of John Turk, the murderer, on a plea of insanity, had been successful, for no doubt he felt, as everybody who had watched the face felt, that no man had ever better deserved the gallows.

‘I’m glad too,’ said Johnson. He had sat in the court for ten days watching the face of the man who had carried out with callous detail one of the most brutal and cold-blooded murders of recent years.

The counsel glanced up at his secretary. They were more than employer and employed; for family and other reasons, they were friends. ‘Ah, I remember, yes,’ he said with a kind smile, ‘and you want to get away for Christmas. You’re going to skate and ski in the Alps, aren’t you? If I was your age I’d come with you.’

[Link] How To Write Like HP Lovecraft – 5 Best Tips

by Eugene Doak

Lovecraft might not be a household name like Stephen King, but his stories and the mythos behind them have a cult following. His unique style of cosmic horror has inspired countless authors, films, musicians, and games. So, even if you haven’t sat down and read The Call of Cthulhu, you’re probably familiar with some “Lovecraftian” inspired horror, which is the topic of today’s article – What is Lovecraftian Horror and how to write like HP Lovecraft.

Cosmicism: The Philosophy of Insignificance

At the heart of Lovecraft’s style is Cosmicism, the philosophical idea that human life is meaningless in the face of the vast, indifferent universe. His stories are not about good versus evil, but about frail, limited humans stumbling upon truths that their minds are simply not equipped to handle. The horror comes from the revelation that there are ancient, powerful, and utterly alien beings for whom humanity is less than an afterthought.

The Fear of the Unknown

Lovecraft rarely showed his monsters in full detail. Instead, he relied on suggestive prose and vague descriptions to build suspense. He would use words like “cyclopean,” “non-Euclidean,” and “squamous” to describe his creations, forcing the reader’s imagination to fill in the terrifying blanks. The horror isn’t just in the monster itself, but in the inability of the human mind to fully comprehend it.

Pastiche and Pseudobibliographia

Lovecraft created a shared literary universe by having his characters reference the same fictional grimoires and texts, most famously The Necronomicon. This technique, known as pseudobibliographia, made his stories feel more real and connected, as if they were all part of a larger, horrifying history. He also used a style of writing that mimicked 18th-century antiquarians, giving his prose a scholarly, archaic feel that lent credibility to the terrifying events he described.

How To Write Like HP Lovecraft

If you want to try writing like H.P. Lovecraft, you should focus on a few key elements that define his unique style. It’s less about imitating his exact word choice and more about capturing the atmosphere and philosophical core of his work.

Read the full article: https://livingwriter.com/blog/how-to-write-like-hp-lovecraft-5-best-tips/

Valhalla Books unleashes Dante's Rebirth!

Get ready for a rebirth! Valhalla Books’ Dante’s Rebirth is now available in paperback & ebook  at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FLWW9GP3

After the stunning final reckoning that laid waste to Dante, the town begins to rebuild. As life returns to normal in the mining boom town, new arrivals bring fresh opportunities. The Pommel Brothers hit town looking to make their bones, unaware of the danger lurking around every corner of the desert town.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Perth and Heath Moore have started rebuilding their lives and their future together, but a telegram announcing the imminent arrival of Albert Barclay, the owner of The Dante Dispatch brings a sense of dread.

The reopening of the Archibald mine, under new ownership, unleashes a new underground horror with sharp claws and sharper teeth. These creatures are hungry. And Dante’s citizens are on the menu.

If that wasn’t enough, Miss Maddie, Dante’s most mysterious elder, unleashes plans of her own for both Dante and the poor, wretched souls who call it home.

Get ready for an all-new Dante Tall Tale from award-winning author Bobby Nash.

Dante’s Rebirth is the fourth book in the award-winning Dante western/horror series written by Author Bobby Nash. Cover by Jeffrey Hayes. Published by Valhalla Books.

All four Dante ebooks are currently $0.99 for a limited time. You can find them here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BX5QFR5P

Matthew Hand: Neither Tidy Nor Meant To Be

Matthew Hand grew up around the Southeast. He writes stories about people under pressure—moral, spiritual, familial, sometimes all at once. The characters are often trying to make sense of something bigger than them: grief, memory, belief, God, or the silence that follows when none of those things show up the way they expect. But he doesn’t write to explain. He writes to document what happens when there’s no clear rescue and no one left to blame. The stories aren’t tidy. They aren't meant to be.

Tell us a bit about your most recent work.

I just finished a story called Disqualified. It’s a horror narrative that starts like a typical cabin slasher, but the protagonist knows the rules — she knows she’s supposed to die — and goes anyway. It’s really about choice and consequence, turning the genre’s moral code into something theological and personal.

What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work?

I think most of my work tends to revolve around people confronting their own grief - personal, familial, institutional. That sounds dark and depressing, but I think my approach is cleansing: here’s a mess, let’s organize it.

[Link] 40 SCARIEST BOOKS OF THE LAST 200 YEARS

 

by Sarah Mangiola

Creepy stories are as old as mankind, and the really good ones will continue to frighten generations to come.

We’re looking back through the scariest books of the past two centuries – from chilling gothic classics to post-apocalyptic tales of caution. These terrifying tales leave readers restless, never quite sure where fiction ends and reality begins.

Page through our master list below, and you’re guaranteed to stumble across a new nightmare in no time at all.

Read the full article: http://www.the-line-up.com/40-scariest-books-of-the-last-200-years/

Spooky Stories That Affected You

For our Halloween week writer roundtable, tell us the spookiest or creepiest book or story you've ever read and why it affected you. 

Amelia Sides: Children of Men. *Waves vaguely at our current state of affairs*

Danielle Procter Piper: It's a very short story... I wish I could recall the title or author, but it's published in a book I read long ago. Two medical students are still cleaning up their workspace after class has ended and begin a conversation about how cadavers sometimes move due to a buildup of gases in their decomposing bodies. They've even been known to sit up or fall off tables! As they finish up, they wheel their cadaver down the hall to the elevator to return to the morgue...and a power failure leaves them stuck between floors in total darkness. That's it. I think the story might be three pages long? So, anything frightening that could happen in real life scares me, while fantasy horror is just for fun. This, Misery scares me more than any other Stephen King story. It could happen. It's the difference between the news and a nightmare you had.

Seth Tucker: Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and Matheson’s Hell House spooked me. Despite being two very different styles of haunted house stories, Jackson got to me because of the unreliable narrator, which leaves every event in question, while Matheson made you believe in a malevolent cadre of specters enjoying the torment they filed out, and then that reveal at the end. Both of them build atmosphere equally though, which I don’t see as much in more modern ghost stories.

UPDATED FOR HALLOWEEN 2025! Horror Movies that Influence Me as a Writer

 

Note: This is an update to this post. So many new movies have come out and I've caught up on a few I still had managed to miss from the "good old days" that it felt like the right time to update this list. 

As a writer of horror stories and connoisseur of scary flicks, I get asked a lot what my favorite horror movies are. Well, it's not that simple with me (it never is; ask my wife and kids). There are so many and how can one possibly pick a favorite when there are favorites in so many subgenres? (It's like how my wife tells me she can have more than one best friend when "best" is a superlative, not a comparative.) 

Anyway, as of this moment in time (subject to change), this is my list of favorite horror movies (and those that influenced my ideas and my writing) categorized by subgenre. 

If you want to consider this your own "to watch" list, I won't stop you. It's a fantastic list (at least in my opinion) of the essential horror stories committed to film. 

FYI, you will notice some crossover between subgenres, because, well, that's just the way horror works. 

New Category#1! Sinister Locations

My son Evan recommended that I include this as a new category, and the more I thought about it, he was right. I don't include a mere haunted house tale in this list though. Those will be under Ghost Stories/Haunted Houses. This list is reserved for a place that is more than haunted; it is cursed, unclean, unwelcoming and out to get you.

1. Hausu

2. As Above, So Below

3. YellowBrickRoad

4. In the Mouth of Madness

5. Dead & Buried

6. The Shining

7. Messiah of Evil

8. The Watcher in the Woods

9. Silent Hill

10. Dave Made a Maze

11. Suicide Forest

12. Population 436

13. Cabin in the Woods

14. Pet Sematary

15. Southbound

16. Skinamarink

17. The Dark

18. Neon Demon

19. Jugface

20. Waxworks

New Category#2! Kaiju

Who doesn't love giant monsters? It all began with the two kings, Kong and Godzilla. But American sci-fi quickly picked up on the theme and gave us lots of giant monsters thanks to the dangers of atomic bombs and chemicals polluting our waters. 

1. King Kong 1933

2. Gojira 1954

3. Godzilla Minus-1

4. Troll Hunter

5. Tremors

6. Them

7. King Kong 2005

8. The Host

9. Godzilla 2014

10. Destroy All Monsters

11. Monsters

12. Cloverfield

13. Mothra

14. Rodan

15. Kong: Skull Island

16. Tarantula

17. The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms

18. Nope 

19. The Mist

20. Q the Winged Serpent

21. Pacific Rim

22. Attack of the 50 Foot Women

23. The Blob 1988

24. Anaconda

25. Colossal 

The Halloween Rerun Show

It's Halloween again! This time of the year is one of my favorite seasons and holidays. A time to celebrate the ghoulish and ghastly, and enjoy the scares. In  honor of this time of the year, here are several of my favorite Halloween themed posts from this here little blog that could.

Cover up with a blanket if it makes you feel safer.

Enjoy.

Classic Scares in Black and White
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2015/10/classic-scares-in-black-and-white.html

The Queens of Scream
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-queens-of-scream.html

Outgrow Horror Movies? Never.
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-writer-will-take-your-questions-now_12.html

Required Reading: 50 of the Best Horror Comics
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2015/10/halloween-link-required-reading-50-of.html

Scare Me
http://seanhtaylor.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-writer-will-take-your-questions-now_10.html

Selah Janel reveals her Visiting Hours! Visit the Shadow Realm -- at your own risk!

In the Shadow Realm, everything has a story.

A little girl’s tall tales foretell the end of the world. A monster becomes the hunted at a haunted attraction. Sacrifices aren’t what they seem and traditions are meant to be followed for a reason. Vampire siblings confront their past while fighting about their future. A woman struggles to remember who she is while her rescuers hide their family secret in the depths of their cellar. Love and loss are stitched together in strange ways on the prairie. A young boy finds an unlikely friend who can fit in the strangest of places.

In these pages lurk tales of time loops, travels gone wrong, revenge, strange memories, hard decisions, and new variations on old fairy tales. Take the time to visit all the shadowy places and reflect on what you find. Just make sure you know how to find your way out again.

Available on Amazon. 

Award-Winning Writer Tony Sarrecchia Unleashes The Skin Man

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Award-Winning Writer Tony Sarrecchia Unleashes The Skin Man

A Terrifying New Techno-Horror Novel Exploring Evolution, Undeath, and Survival 

[Atlanta, GA] – [9/30/2025] – Acclaimed storyteller Tony Sarrecchia (known for his noir-fantasy and serialized horror fiction) announces the release of his latest work, The Skin Man, a chilling techno-horror serial novel set in his expanding Everything Evolves universe.

Blending apocalyptic survival, cutting-edge speculative science, and a creeping sense of cosmic dread, The Skin Man introduces readers to a world where the dead are no longer just reanimated—they’re evolving. This gripping new entry is already generating buzz among fans of The Last of Us, The Stand, and World War Z.

At the heart of the novel is the terrifying figure known only as The Skin Man, a creation born from failed government experiments and human ambition gone wrong. Survivors Matt and Brielle must navigate hybrid horrors, unravel dark conspiracies, and confront a grotesque antagonist who threatens not only their survival but the future of humanity itself.

“It wasn’t a deader anymore…it was evolving…”

— The Skin Man

Tony Sarrecchia, author of In the Shadow of Camelot and the serialized Harry Strange Radio Drama, explains: “With The Skin Man, I wanted to push zombie horror beyond shambling corpses and jump scares. Evolution is the scariest idea of all—what if the things we fear are learning, adapting, and planning? That’s where the true horror lies.”

Why The Skin Man Matters

• Fresh Take on Horror – The undead are evolving with intelligence, strategy, and terrifying purpose.

• Techno-Horror Meets Noir – Gritty survivalism collides with government conspiracies and twisted science.

• Character-Driven Dread – Matt and Brielle’s fight for survival mirrors our own fears of change, corruption, and control.

Availability

The Skin Man is available now at www.tonysarrecchia.com, with serialized digital, print, and Patreon editions releasing twice a month.

About Tony Sarrecchia

Tony Sarrecchia is a novelist and storyteller blending horror, noir, and speculative fiction. His works include In the Shadow of Camelot (in preproduction), The Scarlett Hood Adventures, and multiple audio drama projects. Known for atmospheric world-building and morally complex characters, Tony’s stories push genre boundaries while digging deep into human resilience.

Media Contact

Press Inquiries & Interview Requests
tony@tonysarrecchia.com
Website: www.tonysarrecchia.com

Teel James Gleen releases A Walking Shadow

A Walking Shadow blends classic horror and hard-boiled intrigue. 

Published by Macabre Ink (Cross Roads Press)

It is the year 1939, and Adam Paradise, the creature of the Frankenstein legend made real, has returned to civilization to discover his place in the world.

While enjoying a pleasant evening of moviegoing in Chinatown with his friend Hank, they end up in the middle of a brazen robbery.

Adam thwarts the holdup, which puts him on the hit list of not only the Tongs, but Yakuza killers, the Italian mob, and a mysterious mastermind bent on starting an ethnic gang war.

With his faithful Roma secretary, Vandoma Kalderash, he and Hank are soon plunged into a whirlwind of ambushes and deadly double-crosses.

The patchwork private eye also discovers a level of reality beyond the material world that shakes the foundations of all his beliefs.

Can he defeat the unseen forces of this evil without losing the very humanity he's trying to attain? And who—or what—is Daitengu, a creature that knows his deepest secrets?

• Available on Amazon
• For more information, visit:  TheUrbanswashbuckler.com or email Tjglenn@aol.com

*******

"Teel James Glenn has penned one of the finest literary mashups of our time. Part Hammett, part Shelley, and all heart. A Walking Shadow is a wholly unique take on the PI mystery genre, so well written it will leave you longing for the next installment in this Shamus-nominated series. Brilliant!”

—Bruce Robert Coffin, bestselling author of Crimson Thaw, International Bestselling Author, Silver Falchion Award winner, Maine Literary Award winner, Anthony Award finalist, Agatha Award finalist

"This marvelous genre mashup was a fun read from beginning to end. Frankenstein’s monster – true to the book, not the movies – is presented as a 1930s hard-boiled detective written in a tight, strong pulp style. Elements of Eastern mysticism blend smoothly with the sci-fi character in this sweet detective soup in a suspenseful story that pulls you through the action to a satisfying finish that left me eager for a sequel."
—Austin Camacho, author of eight novels in the Hannibal Jones Mystery Series, five in the Stark and O’Brien adventure series, and short stories featured in the Edgar-nominated African American Mystery Writers: A Historical and Thematic Study by Frankie Y. Bailey.

Skerry Tales by Milton Davis available for pre-order!

Skerry Tales by Milton Davis. 

Release date: October 1, 2025. Currently available for pre-order.

Art: Bloodline by Oz Ezeogu. Cover design by URAEUS.

Skerry Tales is a collection of eight creepy stories by award-winning author Milton J. Davis. Prepare yourself for a macabre journey filled with thrills, chills, and more!

"Milton Davis is renowned for his award-winning sword and soul fantasy works. Yet, a great storyteller transcends genres, and Milton is, if nothing else, a fantastic storyteller. Fear exists in every aspect of our lives, and as such, horror infiltrates genres. When you combine the talents of a world-class storyteller and the insidiousness of terror and fear, you get a collection like Milton’s Skerry Tales."
    - Nicole Givens Kurtz, author/owner Mocha Memoirs Press

“Milton really shows us his writing depth by stepping out of his comfort zone to deliver some truly scary stories.”
    - Marcus H. Roberts, Owner/Publisher, Second Sight Publishing

Movie Reviews for Writers: Killer Book Club

Oh my God! A horror slasher about a book club that focuses on horror fiction?! Can't believe I just discovered this one. It's as if it were written for me in particular. 

El club de los lectores criminales, the film's original Spanish title, is based on the book of the same name by García Miranda. From a plot standpoint, it shares a lot with Scream. In fact, much of the plot and the tone are lifted almost directly from Kevin Williamson's deconstruction of modern slashers. 

But Killer Book Club takes the premise of a campus slasher and moves it into territory I love -- writing and reading books. Even the mysterious death that sets the plot into action involved writing and coming up with story ideas. Any more than that, well, that would be spoilers. 

Writing that lacks truth. What is truth?

In the first few minutes of the movie, we have a scene set in a writing course at college. Our professor, who is clearly not in favor of horror writing, says: "Monsters, demons, ghosts, witches… and other representations of darkness have never been well received by critics, despite their commercial success. I've always seen horror as a mediocre genre. It has a major weakness. It always seems to be missing something. What could it be?"

A student responds: "Maybe that the stories lack authenticity?"

Seth Tucker's Peanut Butter in His Chocolate

With a dark imagination and a love for action, Seth Tucker likes to think that he has mixed the two together to create a winning combination (much like peanut butter and chocolate). But he'll let you decide.

Tell us a bit about your most recent work.

My most recent release is called Rabenhaus. It's a gothic horror that mixes elements of Poe and Lovecraft. The story centers around a plague doctor that is called to the titular village where a mysterious plague is ravaging the area. He's not alone though as a secretive group of doctors spirits away the sick and dead into the surrounding forest. 

What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work?

Small-town horror and conspiracies of silence that exist in those communities have been a theme that started cropping up in my work most recently. A distrust of authority has been present from my very first novel. Given the climate of the last few decades, I can't imagine where that comes from. Lately, I've also been exploring loss and grief in my writings, but none of those works have been published yet. 

What happened in your life that prompted you to become a writer?

I learned I lacked any talent for drawing. As a lover of comic books, I wanted to tell stories in that medium. When I was 12, I wrote short stories to help me deal with those feelings of pre-pubescent helplessness. It was comforting to have a world where I controlled everything.

[Link] The Classic Novel You’ve Been Misunderstanding All Along

by Girish Shukla

Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' is often regarded as a simple tale of horror—a mad scientist creates a monster, and chaos ensues. This enduring image has been cemented by pop culture adaptations, where the creature is often portrayed as a lumbering, inarticulate beast. However, the novel is far more complex and thought-provoking than this surface-level interpretation suggests. Beneath its gothic exterior lies a profound exploration of humanity, responsibility, and the dangers of unbridled ambition.

Not Just a Monster Story

Contrary to popular belief, 'Frankenstein' isn’t about a monster terrorizing the countryside. Instead, it’s a deeply philosophical novel that grapples with what it means to be human. Victor Frankenstein’s creation, often mistakenly referred to as "Frankenstein," is not a mindless beast but a sentient being with emotions, intelligence, and a desperate desire for acceptance.

The real tragedy of the story lies in how Victor abandons his creation, leaving him to navigate a hostile world alone. The creature’s descent into violence is not inherent but a response to rejection and suffering, raising questions about society’s role in shaping individuals.

The True Villain of the Story

One of the most misunderstood aspects of 'Frankenstein' is the identity of its villain. Many assume the creature is the antagonist, but a closer reading suggests otherwise. Victor Frankenstein, driven by unchecked ambition, creates life without considering the consequences.

Victor’s failure to take responsibility for his actions is the true source of the story’s tragedy. His abandonment of the creature sets a chain of events in motion, leading to suffering for everyone involved. Shelley uses Victor’s flawed character to critique the dangers of hubris and the ethical dilemmas of scientific progress.

A Critique of Scientific Ambition

Written during a time of rapid scientific discovery, 'Frankenstein' reflects growing anxieties about the limits of human knowledge. Victor’s experiments push the boundaries of life and death, but his lack of foresight and moral consideration leads to disastrous consequences.

Shelley’s novel is not an indictment of science itself but a warning against pursuing knowledge without responsibility. The story remains relevant today as we grapple with ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, and other technological advancements.

Read the full article: https://www.timesnownews.com/lifestyle/books/features/the-classic-novel-youve-been-misunderstanding-all-along-article-117423296

New Imprint Falstaff Dread Launches with killer historical vampire novel!

Falstaff has a new imprint. Ready for the next generation in horror? Read the killer historical vampire novel. 

Ten years ago, Ezekiel escaped one evil, only to watch helplessly as an even more ancient evil in the form of a vampire ripped his wife from his grasp.

Ezekiel’s hunt began in the ashes of his former life.

Now, the Civil War burns through the American South, and Ezekiel cuts his own swath of destruction, battling man and monster alike. Two unlikely allies join him in his quest: Will, a member of the Union's Ambulance Corp, and Kate, a young Confederate sympathizer. The jaded, world-weary hunter doesn't know if his wife is alive or dead, just that revenge is a dish best served bloody red.

Available from Falstaff Books.

Morgan Dante: Queer, Sensuous, Moody, and Melancholy (And Especially Angst)

Morgan, a lover of Gothic lit and vampires, writes about love, tenderness, body horror, and hunger. ​I met them this past weekend at the Atlanta Sci-Fi Expo and was immediately drawn to her covers. The first pages I read didn't disappoint either. Their specialties are romance, horror, and fantasy, and their work blends Gothic romance with eroticism and dark and devastating religious motifs. They enjoy writing queer, sensuous, moody, and melancholy stories with complicated characters, and they especially like angst and hurt/comfort.

Tell us a bit about your most recent work.

My most recent book, Sacrament, is an M/M/M dark vampire romance that takes place in 1898 Paris and features a complicated, bisexual polycule between three men. The main character deals with the dark, somewhat clandestine world of vampires. It was released on Valentine's Day.

What are the themes and subjects you tend to revisit in your work?

Because I am a trans, queer author who always writes queer characters, I tend to explore themes about identity and being accepted for who you are, no matter how the rest of the world perceives you. Characters who would usually be marginalized or deemed monstrous are portrayed sympathetically. They contend with trauma and find comfort and acceptance, although the road isn't always easy or straightforward.

What happened in your life that prompted you to become a writer? 

I have always written. I think I wrote my first (very short) story when I was in first grade. I remember writing an adventure for a fourth grade creative writing assignment and the teacher recognizing that I was good at writing, and I've always had the desire to keep creating stories and sharing them with others.

DEVOUR THE RICH now available from Above the Rain Collective!

Above the Rain Collective has released Devour The Rich, a horror anthology. I have a story in this one called “Secret Employer” that puts a spin on the Undercover Boss phenomenon. I love writing a good twist. This story allowed me the opportunity to try my hand at a tale that would feel right at home in The Twilight Zone. It was fun. Thanks to Juliet Rose for letting me be part of it.

 About Devour The Rich:

Who hasn’t wanted to exact revenge on their oppressor? From bad bosses to corrupt corporations, and the greedy elite, this anthology has it all. Tales of the poor, marginalized, and working class being pushed to their absolute limits and screaming, “enough is enough!”

Each story will take you through the horrors many face surviving day-to-day, and how they finally snap to take down those who control their very livelihoods. These stories will make you squirm in your seat and root for the underdog, even when it ends in a bloody, bone-chilling victory.

Stick a fork in them, they’re done.

Featuring stories by Kirsten Noelle Craig, Wayne Turmel, Maya Preisler, Brýn Grover, Christine Cunningham, Bobby Nash, Alanna Robertson-Webb, Pete Russo, Kelly Barker, R.E. Sargent, D.Z. Hollow, Ian Gielen, Besu Tadesse, Christina Graves, R.C. Abernathy, and Juliet Rose. Cover art by Alexandrea Christianson. Published by Above the Rain Collective. https://abovetheraincollective.com

Devour The Rich is available at the following retailers:

• Amazon US (paperback) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTJ8J9WH
• Amazon UK (paperback) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DTJ8J9WH
• Amazon CA (paperback) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DTJ8J9WH
• Amazon US (ebook) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DTFMKWKP
• Amazon CA (ebook) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0DTFMKWKP
• Amazon UK (ebook) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DTFMKWKP
• And Amazon worldwide.
• Read it FREE with your Kindle Unlimited subscription.

Mocha Memoirs introduces a chilling coming-of-age horror tale in Sinister Ascension!

Bruckner University senior, Carmen Guerra learns from her grandmother that being a medium run in her family. Carmen assumes the ability skipped her as she can’t commune with the dead.

But an evil presence rouses her abilities and she goes through a painful awakening that torments her physically, mentally, and emotionally. Todd Anderson, the transfer grad student, is a vampire. He has come to campus in search a host body to possess once he has completed an arcane spell. One that will allow him to ascend into a demon. When he sets his sights on Carmen’s roommate as his potential host body, she must quickly learn her abilities and how to control them.

With aid from her long-distance grandmother, a lost spirit and an unexpected ally, Carmen struggles to cope with new abilities while finding her the strength to battle Todd from completing the sinister ascension. 

From Mocha Memoirs Press, Sinister Ascension is a chilling coming-of-age tale that follows a young medium growing into her powers in time to uncover a diabolical plot against her college roommate. Can Carmen Guerra stop the sinister ascension before her roommate becomes the host body for a new demon lord?

Find out now!