10 Haunted Locations I Want to Visit Before I Become a Ghost Myself, Season 11

Posted: March 18, 2026 in Scary Stuff
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Photo by Pedro Figueras on Pexels.com

Can you believe that this is the 11th post I’ve written where I list haunted locations I want to visit? I had no idea people would love these posts so much, but I’m glad, because they’re a lot of fun to write. And sometimes, I hear about places near Followers of Fear that draw my interest.

This time around, the number of places that drew my interest seemed to come one after one, so I was able to pull together this list much more quickly than usual. So, with the hope that I can visit some of these places (and maybe scare some of you away from where you live), here are ten more haunted locations I want to visit before I become a ghost myself.

Lake Mead, Nevada/Arizona
Located near Las Vegas, Lake Mead is a historic national park, as well as where the Hoover Dam is located. It’s supposed to be a pretty place, great for hiking and for history lovers. And due to drought, lost locations like an old Pueblo village and an abandoned Mormon settlement have appeared out of the receding waters. However, Lake Mead has also been the site of numerous deaths. By some estimates it’s got more deaths than any other national park in the US, many appearing to be suicides or Mafia murders.
As a result, Lake Mead has become the site of numerous hauntings. Reports include ghostly screams, shadows, negative energies, and more.
Sounds like the kind of place I should like to visit the next time I’m out at Vegas.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
One of America’s oldest prisons, it operated for over 140 years, and was home to several famous inmates, including Al Capone. Known for being in the shape of a wagon wheel, the prison has numerous sections and cell blocks, and is today a historical landmark that also holds various art and historical exhibits, as well as haunted attractions during Halloween.
Speaking of which, the prison is supposedly very haunted, and has been for years. Reportedly, Al Capone was haunted by a ghost named Jimmy, and others have noticed paranormal activity all over the place, including in certain cell blocks or near the death row wing. And while they don’t exactly promote themselves as a haunted location, I believe you can reserve the prison for ghost hunts. Would anyone be willing to go with me to one of those?

Browse Awhile Books, Tipp City, Ohio
Located in the historic district of Tipp City, Browse Awhile Books is a cozy little bookstore that boasts about four thousand square feet of space, containing 150,000 books. The store’s website also draws particular attention to its collection of rare and out of print books.
What’s not mentioned on the website, but which shows up as soon as you search the store on Google, is the hauntings. Reportedly, at least fifteen ghosts call the bookstore home, including a child ghost named Caleb who plays with the children’s toys. Other ghosts have yelled at or attacked unruly patrons and shoplifters. Paranormal groups have stayed overnight at the store and caught plenty of evidence. I think I would like to come by one night and see if I can catch my own evidence…while also reading older copies of my favorite books.

Mortuary Manor and Museum, Toledo, Ohio
You know, before I moved to Columbus, I lived in Toledo for five years. I’m sure if I still lived there, I would have not only heard of this place, but would have been one of the first to explore it. A former funeral home housed in a big, colonial-style manor, it has now been turned into a museum. You can check out actual embalming rooms, a Civil War “ice casket,” and so much more! And get this: nine people have actually died onsite.
Not surprisingly, local paranormal enthusiasts consider it a hot spot for ghostly activity. And I would love to stop inside, take a tour, and take out my dowsing rods to communicate with any spirits there.

L’Auberge rouge, France
Translating to “The Red Inn,” the name of the inn refers to the red tiles on the roof. Of course, you would be excused if you thought it referred to the inn’s bloody history. For a number of years, Pierre Martin, the inn’s owner, was also a henchman for the local nobility, and he was feared and hated by the locals for it. In 1831, a murder occurred near the inn, and Pierre, his wife, and their servant were charged, convicted, and executed for it. During the trial, over a hundred witnesses alleged that the Martins and their servants would kill people in their inn and then feed the bodies to unsuspecting guests Sweeney Todd-style..
Today, the trial is heavily criticized for its possible political motivations and lack of integrity. It’s also highly dubious if the Martins did even the one murder they were accused of, let alone as many as their neighbors alleged. Nevertheless, it is a terrifying story. Today, the inn has become a museum with its own restaurant-hotel and gas station. And even if the Martins didn’t commit all those murders, there’s a good chance something is haunting the building. I would like to go and find out.

The Nassau Inn, Princeton, New Jersey

Nassau Inn, Princeton, New Jersey
Located right by Princeton University, the original Nassau Inn was a well-known meeting place, notably being where the Continental Congress met after the American Revolution. In the 1970s, the original building was demolished and a new building was set a little ways away. However, the new building does pay homage to its history, with references throughout to the original building’s contributions to American history.
And given the reports from the hotel, it’s worked. Plenty of people have reportedly seen people in revolutionary uniform or colonial-era dresses, a shadow figure named Chester is said to make appearances, and phantom cigar smoke is often smelled. Personally, it all seems like a good reason to visit New Jersey.

Driskill Hotel, Austin, Texas
The Driskill Hotel is the oldest operating hotel in Austin, Texas, and is one of the most well-known in Texas itself. Originally built as a single four-story Romanesque Revival building in 1886, it was expanded in 1930 with a thirteen-floor annex. It has seen a host of famous people, including former presidents and celebrities, and has hosted a couple of well-known balls.
The hotel is also supposedly home to some ghosts. The most famous is a seven-year-old girl named Samantha, who fell down the Grand Staircase chasing her toy. She has been hanging around the hotel ever since, particularly around a painting called Love Letters.
Wait, don’t I know someone in Texas? Someone I’m always threatening to take to one of these haunted locations? I wonder who it could be.

The Crooked Forst, Nowe Czarnowo, Poland
If you’ve ever seen pictures of some trees that are oddly-curved at their bases, like snakes, before shooting all the way up, it’s from this forest. This forest near the village Nowe Czarnowo in northwestern Poland is famous for its trees, all Scots pines that have the characteristic weird shape I described. No one knows how the trees got that shape or why. The leading theory is that it was some human-engineered technique or tool, possibly for shipbuilding, but there’s no way to prove it.
Today, the forest is a tourist attraction, and is commonly thought to be a hotspot of paranormal activity. Whether that’s ghosts or wandering entities that never held human form is unclear. Still, I’m intrigued enough to want to go and visit the forest at night.

Green Park, London, England
Originally a swamp and a burial ground for lepers, the land was drained around the 17th century and made a park. It then received its new name a century later. The park is a lovely place today with plenty of war memorials and is adjoined by multiple other, more famous parks.
However, there are lots of ghosts that supposedly roam the park, such as the spirits of lepers who have not moved on, or a highwayman still out to rob passerby. There’s also supposedly a creature that’s so ugly, staring at it can cause heart attacks and a tree that bleeds blood instead of sap when cut and proximity to which will shorten your lifespan. Hmm…and yet, I’m still tempted to visit at night.

The Fire Island Lighthouse, Fire Island, New York

Fire Island Lighthouse, Fire Island, New York
Fire Island is known as a gay enclave and a fun party space in the summer, but it’s also home to a number of ghost stories. The lighthouse itself is the site of numerous supposed hauntings. One haunting includes a lighthouse keeper and his daughter. The latter died of illness while her father was on the mainland trying to get help. He later took his own life out of grief and guilt, and now they both haunt the lighthouse. Plus, numerous pirates and shipwreck victims also haunt the lighthouse.
At least one paranormal group has visit the lighthouse and supposedly come away with evidence. I wonder if I would be allowed to come by and do some investigating myself? Especially if I enjoy some time at the local hot spots as well?

And that’s ten more paranormal hot spots I want to visit before I become a ghost myself. They’re all quite spooky, aren’t they. But tell me, have you been to any of these spots? What was your experiences like? And would you like to come visit them with me some time? Let’s discuss.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Review: “Coffin Moon” by Keith Rosson

Posted: March 12, 2026 in Novel, Review, Scary Stuff
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Recently, Coffin Moon has been getting A LOT of mentions in a Facebook group I’m part of. What I’d heard sounded very interesting. Like that movie Near Dark, but good. So, when I had some saved credits on Audible, I got the audio book. And boy, was I not prepared for what I got.

Set in the mid-to-late 1970s, Coffin Moon follows Dwayne Miner, a Vietnam veteran who is trying to stay sober despite both PTSD and working in the bar owned by his in-laws. He’s also trying to be a good guardian to his wife’s niece, who is living with them after her own family is torn apart. And he’s holding onto secrets that could ruin more lives than just his. All this changes, though, when a couple of bikers try selling drugs through the bar…with Miner’s mother-in-law’s permission! When he objects, it sets off a chain of events that will change the course of Miner’s destiny, and throw him headlong into a world he never knew existed.

So, if you’re familiar with Near Dark, you’re aware that this is about vampires. Though honestly, the vampires feel closer to the ones from Sinners than from that weird-ass film. The main vampire, John Varley, is pure evil. He’s impulsive, incredibly selfish, and enjoys the violence and the chaos he causes. Even when he feels love, it’s twisted on so many levels. You’re at once both fascinated by him and repulsed by him, which, from a writer’s perspective, I just admire.

I also like the other characters. You really come to feel for both Dwayne and his niece, Julia. Both have been through the ringer during their short lives, and the events of the novel do not help. It really helps you empathize and want to root for them.

As for the story, the best way to describe it is twisty and unexpected. Several times, especially during the first third of the novel, I was surprised by the directions the story took, which I did not see coming. I think at one point, while I was listening in the car, my mouth fell open and I literally shouted, “What?!” I was that surprised.

Plus, the worldbuilding is done very lightly but effectively, and the stakes remain epic in a number of scenes (pun not intended).

My only criticisms are that when we finally find out the full details of the dark secret Dwight’s been holding onto the whole book, it’s told more as a story than as a flashback, which I would have expected. That, and I thought the final battle could’ve been drawn out a bit more. It just went too quickly for me.

However, as far as vampire stories go, this is definitely one I’m glad I read. On a scale of 1 to 5, I’m giving Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson a 4.5. Unexpected, full of pathos and masterful storytelling. Grab your red wine or tomato juice, and sit down with it today. You might find yourself, like a vampire, staying up all night long with it.

I’ve Received My First Acceptance of 2026 (And It Is Special)

Posted: March 2, 2026 in Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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I’ve been sitting on this news for a month. I had to wait until it was official and all the paperwork was signed. Now, it’s time to let it all out.

As many of you remember, my friend Matt Mason, AKA the author MG Mason, died of cancer back in November (you can read my full post written in his memory here). He built a thriving community online around “Horror Writers Chat,” a weekly get-together on BlueSky where we all talked about horror and writing through questions and reposts and supporting each other. His death affected us greatly, and we still miss him.

One of our members, William Beck, who owns his own publishing press, organized a charity anthology in Matt’s memory, The Shadows That We Carry. He invited all of us to write stories to contribute to the anthology. If it’s not obvious, I wrote a story that would hopefully be included in the anthology and would honor Matt’s memory.

I can now say with both honor and humility that my contribution, “The Static Man,” will appear in The Shadows That We Carry.

I’m so happy to be in this anthology. The writers who participate in Horror Writers Chat every week are amazing storytellers, and I’m looking forward to being in an anthology with them. Especially one that will not only honor Matt’s memory, but help others. You see, proceeds from sales of The Shadows That We Carry will go towards Macmillan Cancer Support, a British charity that was dear to Matt. The charity supports people with cancer through medical, informational, and financial support. They are one of the largest charities in Britain, and seek to improve the lives of all in the UK affected by cancer. You can find out more about them here.

Honestly, that seems like a wonderful mission and I’m happy to do my part to help.

As for my story, “The Static Man,” I think you’re going to enjoy it. It’s the story of a college co-ed who is being stalked by an entity made entirely of what appears to be TV static. One of the other authors participating in the anthology, Louise Conway, read it and gave it some positive feedback, so I think plenty more horror fans will enjoy it as well. I tried to make it as claustrophobic and unnerving as possible.

Anyway, the release date for The Shadows That We Carry has yet to be announced, so I’ll be sure to let you know once it has. I hope you’re excited to read it, as well as my short story “The Static Man.” And in the meantime, if you’re looking for something to spooky to read, you know I have quite the catalog already available.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to celebrate with some reading and maybe a cocktail. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

I’m Blogging Less Lately

Posted: February 19, 2026 in Living and Life, Reflections
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If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you might have noticed I’m blogging a lot less than I used to. Or you haven’t noticed because you have a life and are too busy to keep track of that sort of thing.

But I’ve noticed. I would. I write this blog. And I’ve noticed that I’m blogging less.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not because I’m disenchanted with blogging. I love it! I’ve been writing this blog for over fourteen years and I don’t intend to stop now! Besides, I’ve met some wonderful friends and readers through blogging. And it is still one of the main avenues of how I let people know when I have something new coming out.

But life keeps me busy. Not only do I have a day job that occupies a lot of my time, I have a lot of other responsibilities that come with being a functioning adult in this crazy society. And then I have to find time to eat, sleep, and relax. And then, after all that, there’s time to write. And I’m spending a lot of time on those stories so I can get them out there and hopefully get them published.

With all that happening, it cuts down on blogging time. And when I do blog, I want it to mean something. I want it to be more than just advertising for Rami Ungar’s books. I mean, I do want people to check out my books, but my blog should be more than that. It should be a way for my readers and friends to connect with me. So, what I post here should be important.

That being said, I just don’t have the energy to talk about politics or current events on my blog like I did in my college days. I mean, I could. I get angry like everyone else. But I feel like if I try writing my feelings out on my blog like that, I would be doing that every day for the rest of my life! Which would probably be short, because my blood pressure would skyrocket from the constant anger and anxiety and dealing with commenters who may not agree with my views.

So, I try and save those posts for when I feel it’s really needed and it can’t be said in just a Facebook post.

An accurate representation of me considering whether something is worth blogging about. Photo by Athena Sandrini on Pexels.com

And that’s another thing: if it can be said in a short post on one of my social media profiles, I probably won’t say it here. Whether that be politics, or Hollywood adapting the same Stephen King stories for the umpteenth time, or just a moment in my day that felt very impactful. If I can say it in just a short post on Facebook or Instagram or whatever, it probably won’t be said here. It needs to be worth filling a blog post for.

All that conspires to keep me from blogging more often. And part of me is not okay with that, because, as I said, I love blogging. I love the interaction and I love keeping this thing I’ve created going. But I have to accept that, as much as I love to blog, I don’t always have a lot to blog about. And if I try to force it, I will feel burned out and not want to blog any more. And I would hate that even more.

On the bright side, I have no intention to stop blogging. I still intend for this blog to be one of the main avenues for my Followers of Fear to get to know me and hear important updates on my life and career. I just won’t be averaging six or seven blog posts a month, like I used to. (Yes, I did the math.)

But hey, at least you know that when I do put something out there on this blog, it’s because I really feel it needs to be shared on this blog. And isn’t that why blogs exist in the first place? Because we have something worth saying? I think it is.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m sorry if I worried one or two of you by my less-frequent posts. On the bright side, next week, I should have at least one thing to blog about. I’ve been sitting on an announcement since the beginning of the month, and I may finally be able to speak about it very soon.

But until that time comes, good night, my Followers of Fear, and pleasant nightmares. I’ll be seeing you very soon. Possibly by jumping out from under your bed and shouting “Boo!” I mean, would you put it past me?

See you soon.

Something New is in the Works

Posted: February 15, 2026 in Progress Report, Writing
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So, for a couple of years now, I’ve had a few novellas lying around. Half of them were edited extensively and had even been sent out to publishers. The other half had only been edited so much and needed a lot more. And on-and-off, between The Shape of Evil and multiple short projects, I’ve edited and rewritten these novellas and even sent them off once or twice.

When did I decide to just turn them into a four-novella collection?

Honestly, I can’t remember. All I know is, I find something very special and prestigious about four-novella collections. It’s not a collection of multiple short stories or a full-length novel, but something in-between. Not to mention there’s been some really good ones over the years, like Four Past Midnight or Different Seasons, both by Stephen King. Or Ronald Malfi’s Ghostwritten (that one is so good!). And the idea of taking these novellas and making a collection out of them just took hold of me.

And some time last year, I started editing the two novellas that needed more editing with the goal of getting them edited to the point where I wanted to show them to others. I gave each of them another draft, then sent them off to beta readers. Once the beta readers finished with the stories and sent me their notes, I gave them both another round of edits. Which I finished doing last night.

So, now the collection of novellas is complete. And I’ve already sent it off to a publishing house. With any luck, they’ll want to publish it. If not, I’ll try elsewhere, though I have a good feeling about the place I sent it to in the first place (why else would I send it there?). Whatever happens, I’ll keep you guys posted. After all, you know how much I love letting people know when I have stories coming out.

For now, though, I have a couple of short stories to edit before I send them off to potential publishers. And after that, I’ll do something short and new for my critique group, followed by another draft of The Shape of Evil (still trying to find a home for that, but I think there are some ways to improve it while I’m waiting to hear back from a few places). In other words, I’m going to be busy.

But hey, I feel like all this is leading me closer to being able to write full time, which would be my dream come true. And if my Tarot readings lately are anything to go by, I might be on the cusp of realizing that dream (or opening up the path towards it). So, better keep busy and get it done.

Being busy and getting lots of stories out there is how I’m going to make my dreams come true.

And in the meantime, if you’re looking for something spooky to read, I already have six books and a few short stories out (including some that are free to download). From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan, so why not give it a try? I’ll include a link to my books page below. And if you like what you read, please consider giving what you read a review online. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and your fellow readers in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll try to tune in again some time later this week. Until then, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Rami Ungar’s Books

Horror Writers at the Haunted House Restaurant

Posted: February 10, 2026 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff
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There’s a restaurant in Cleveland, near where I have family, that’s gained something of a reputation. You see, it’s kind of scary. The decorations look like something out of a Halloween attraction. Weird noises like knocking on the walls or sirens are heard throughout the day. And, if you’re not careful, the staff might threaten you with a knife or a bat.

And you know what? People freaking love it! Especially me!

The Haunted House Restaurant in Cleveland is a restaurant themed after horror, especially horror movies. The entrance has a statue of the Grim Reaper in it, the waiting room looks like a movie theater lobby, and the actual restaurant has a statue of Pennywise and horror-themed art watching over the guests. The wait staff dress up like horror characters, and wear masks from The Purge whenever there’s a birthday to celebrate. On TV screens set up around the restaurant, various horror movies, particularly slashers, play. And depending on when you get there, there may be trivia games and horror movie villains walking around and trying to kill interacting with the guests.

Obviously, the entire menu is themed after horror movies. And what I’ve had has been quite enjoyable.

I’ve been twice, with the most recent trip being on Sunday (I know it’s Wednesday when I’m writing this. I’ve been busy!), and I was there for brunch with some of my horror writer friends! In particular, Kelly Griffiths, Ann O’Mara Heyward, Marvin Brown, Andromeda Ruins, and Idalita Wright Raso joined me there. We’re all members of HWA Ohio, the Ohio chapter of the Horror Writers Association, which I help run. Here’s the group photo we took.

Starting from the bottom left and going counter-clockwise: Idalita Wright Raso, Andromeda Ruins, me, Marvin Brown, Ann O’Mara Heyward, and Kelly Griffiths.

Looks pretty cool, right? This restaurant has been around for a few years, and since it opened, there’s been talk among the Ohio horror writers of having a lunch or dinner there one of these days. As it happened, coming up for Akronomicon gave me the opportunity to set it up. And while not everyone in the area could come, a few of us were able to. Some of us had never even been, or even knew the place existed! So, it made for a special lunch.

Until Ida was nearly killed by a Killer Klown from Outer Space. But she survived and the klown learned its lesson. I think.

I decided to post about this for a couple of reasons. One is that not everyone has heard of this place, and I would love for it to get some more attention. Hell, if it got famous enough to open a franchise location in Columbus, I would be over the moon!

I also posted about this because I wanted to show off me and my horror friends getting together to talk shop and enjoy ourselves. One of the best parts of StokerCon is getting together with your fellow horror writers, in a setting where horror permeates every square inch (even in the nicest hotel spaces) and talk about writing and horror as freely as you want. Sadly, these opportunities don’t happen as often as I like, and even less of the time in person. So, getting together with everyone like this was like having a small slice of StokerCon right in the middle of February with my friends by my side.

And in such a fun restaurant, to boot! I mean, can you think of anywhere more appropriate to talk about our craft? I can’t.

And finally, I just wanted to post about going there…well, just because. Do I need another reason?

If you’re ever in Cleveland and feeling a little adventurous and spooky, head on over to the Haunted House Restaurant. Better make a reservation, though, because they can get busy. And bring a spooky friend or two. You’ll have the time of your life. I know I have, and I think my friends did, too.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you enjoyed reading this, and I’ll try to have more posts out soon, including some with good news I’m currently sitting on. In the meantime, enjoy the slightly improved weather we’re having this week. And until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Life is Weird Lately

Posted: February 3, 2026 in Living and Life, Reflections
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Life has been weird lately. And I’m the one saying that!

I mean, first there’s the weather lately. If you didn’t know somehow, most of North America had a huge snow storm, known as Winter Storm Fern, that covered most of the US and parts of our neighbors in several feet of snow. It was so bad, we actually had to work from home for a couple of days (though I went into the office more days than most of my colleagues)! To illustrate, here’s what my yard looked like before the snow fell.

And here’s what it looked like the next morning.

Yikes! You can see why I didn’t go into work the following Monday. And how much trouble it was to shovel all that snow out of the driveway the night before I had to go back into work. And most of this snow is still there! It’s been shoveled away or to the side in some places, but there are still areas where the snow is still high and even the roads are blocked in areas. And with the temperature constantly below freezing and even into the negatives, I don’t see it going away any time soon.

And then there’s the deer. Last Sunday, the night before I was going to work from home, I looked out the window and saw a family of deer out in my yard. To say the least, I was astounded. I live near some wooded areas, and I’d seen deer walking around before, but this was the first time I’d seen them on my front lawn. I’m guessing that they were walking about because there were fewer vehicles out and they felt it was safe to wander.

So, naturally, I took some pics before they walked off.

So, on its own, that was cool. But then, just a couple days ago, on Sunday, I had an encounter with deer again! And this time, it was in Cleveland! Yeah, I was in Cleveland visiting friends and hanging with my dad and stepmom. And on Sunday, as I was about to leave for Columbus, I look out the window onto their back porch, and there was a deer!

Yeah, I was surprised. There it was, so close to me! Eating from my dad’s bird feeder! In the middle of the day! And three or four more showed up and then walked away. All of them tagged as part of some local tracking program (kid you not, one had a collar and earrings with the number 64 on them). Did not see that coming!

So, two Sundays in a row, I spot deer near where I’m staying. Is that a coincidence because both my home and my dad’s home are near wooded areas? Or is someone trying to send me a message? We’ll see if I spot any this coming Sunday. If I do, I’ll consider it a sign. Hopefully not from Nokotan, though.

Anime fans will get that joke and find it hilarious!

And there’s a whole bunch of other weird happening lately. Just today, I found out Columbus, where I live, is going to be hosting some soccer games for the Summer 2028 Olympics! Columbus, of all places! I know we have a couple of MLS stadiums, but I never would have thought we would be a host city or a satellite host city. Hell, I know we don’t have facilities for some of the events, so I never considered it a possibility.

Still, it looks like it’s happening. And given how many people are likely to show up in Columbus for the games, I think I will get out of town. Hopefully I will be writing full time by then and can leave town as needed. But if not, hopefully I’ll be able to take enough time off from work that I can get out of town for the duration of the games. As to where I’ll go, we’ll see where I am in life when I get there.

And that’s a good segue into another weird thing: my writing. It’s slowed down a bit lately.

I wish I knew why. I’m doing the self-care rituals I need to, and I’m leaving time in the evenings to write. But a lot of evenings I don’t have time to write. And when I do, it moves a lot more slowly than I would like. That might be partly because I’ve had to rewrite parts of the story I’m editing and finding the right way to tell the story takes time. Still, for a guy who’s trying to get a whole bunch of stories submitted for publication this year, this is frustrating.

Well, hopefully that changes soon. All my Tarot readings are showing February to be a good month for me, so perhaps things will speed up for me after Akronomicon this weekend. Maybe it’ll also warm up and the snow will melt, and I won’t get any malevolent messages from local deer populations. That would be nice!

Because let’s face it, life is already kind of mad, and I’m already an eccentric (and I have the stories to match). Making things even weirder in a way that just frustrates me and everyone else does nobody any favors!

One more thing, Followers of Fear: as I said, Akronomicon is this weekend. It’ll be at the Emidio Expo Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, just outside of Akron, on Saturday, February 7th, 2026. This is a fun day-long horror convention with celebrity guests, plenty of cool vendors, and this year, a film festival! If you can, please stop by. I will be signing books and doing Tarot readings, and would love to see you.

And if you can’t make it and would still like to support me, or if you’re in the mood for some creative horror stories, why not check out some of my books? From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for everyone (including some free stuff). So, click the link below, and you’ll find all my books, as well as where to purchase them.

And if you like what you read, please leave a review online. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers out in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to bed so I have energy to function tomorrow. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Rami Ungar’s Books

Events in 2026

Posted: January 25, 2026 in Living and Life, Scary Stuff, Writing
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I know what you’re thinking: “Didn’t he just do a post like this?” Well, right after that post, a friend let me know about another event happening near me. And it was right up my alley. So, I applied for a booth, and got approved immediately! I almost posted an update post then…but felt that was too soon. So, I decided to wait.

And now, with some time and a few posts having passed, I’m posting an updated post of events I’ll be vending at in the near future. If you’re able to attend any of them, I would be happy to see you.

Our first event will be in less than two weeks. Akronomicon will be occurring at the Emidio Expo Center in Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10 AM – 6 PM. This is a fun horror convention with celebrity guests, lots of horror enthusiasts, and plenty of vendors. I’ll be there signing books and doing Tarot readings, so if you want to, please stop by. You can find out more on their Facebook page and purchase tickets here.

This will be followed by BookBash 2026 on Saturday, April 25, 2026 from 1 PM – 7 PM, at the New Leaf Event Center in Conneaut, Ohio. This will be a gathering of writers from all over Ohio and the surrounding states, with panels, workshops, and, of course, lots and lots of books. Again, I’ll be signing books and doing Tarot readings there (and laughing because the venue is owned by a Methodist church and my wares aren’t necessarily in line with their teachings). I’ll also be on the horror panel, so that will be all sorts of fun! You can find out more on their Facebook page.

And the following weekend will be the new event that necessitated this post. Columbus Horror Con will be taking place on Saturday and Sunday, May 2-3, 2026 at the Columbus Crowne Plaza Columbus North-Worthington here in Columbus! (Times vary based on the day.) This is going to be a big horror-themed convention, with celebrity guests, a free film festival, and over 80 vendors. As I said, I’ll be signing books and doing Tarot readings. If you can, please stop by. You can find out more and purchase tickets on the convention’s website.

And finally, StokerCon will be taking place on June 4-7, 2026 at the Westin Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is the Horror Writers Association’s premiere convention, with numerous panels, an awards ceremony, and multiple opportunities to make new friends. Not to mention to find new books to read! I’ll be there having fun and maybe sitting on a few panels. I can’t wait! The website for the event isn’t up yet, but you can purchase tickets on Eventbrite here.

And that’s all for now. I will hopefully be attending the Columbus Book Festival in July, and there might be other events in the future that I can sign up for. Once I get confirmation I’ll be attending, I’ll let you know. And I’ll be sure to give you a reminder right before each event. But no more. I don’t want to annoy you with invites to my events.

In the meantime, if you’re unable to attend any of the events and would like to support me, or you’re just looking for something spooky to read, I have quite the catalog of stories to choose from. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, there’s something for every horror fan (including free stuff). So, why not take a look? I’ll include a link to my books page below.

And if you like what you read, please leave a review online. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback. And your reviews help both me and my fellow writers out in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to meet with my fellow writers and then do some editing. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Rami Ungar’s Books

A Bit of Self-Care Goes a Long Way

Posted: January 22, 2026 in Living and Life
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Nothing says “self-care” like a cup of tea. Photo by Maria Tyutina on Pexels.com

Between the below-freezing temperatures, the overly gray skies most days, and a few other things, I’ve been feeling heavy and low. Some mornings, it takes me an extra ten or even twenty minutes just to get out of the condo and to work. And yesterday? Yesterday, I felt so tired after work, it was like I had multiple weights on my back and arms!

So, instead of writing, I took the night off for some self-care. I made matzo ball soup, watched a lot of anime, drank some tea, and went to bed early. I would have added more, but there was only so much time between when I got home and the time I decided to go to bed. The result: I felt great when I woke up this morning! I was even able to get to work a bit earlier and felt full of energy for most of the day. Hell, if I had more time tonight, I might edit up a storm before hitting the hay. (Ah time. You quick bastard!)

Self-care needs to be a bigger part of our routines as people living in the modern world. So many stressors attack us daily, and mental/emotional health can have a real impact on physical health (like those weights I felt on my body). Some days, like yesterday, I’m so out of sorts, not even writing can relax me like it usually does. And it’s times like those we need to indulge ourselves in some healthy comforts.

You know, another blogger I follow, journalist Caitlin Kelly, did a blog post not too long ago about what comforts her when times are tough. I think I will take a page out of her book and list some of the things that make me feel better when I’m stressed and in need of self-care. They are:

Watching a good movie. Especially a movie I really love. Doesn’t necessarily need to be horror, but more often than not, it is.

Bingeing good anime. Sometimes, the right anime can even help me process whatever issue is causing me anxiety.

Visiting some of my favorite places around Columbus, like Hofbrauhaus, Tensuke Market, or the Ohio Theater. It’s even better when I’m there with my friends or family.

Watching Law & Order/Law & Order: Special Victims Unit on a Thursday night with a glass of beer.

A good glass of wine.

Making wine at home and watching it become something beautiful and tasty.

This is some pumpkin wine I made not too long ago. The process of making it was a lot of fun.

A nice, hot cup of tea before bed.

A nice, hot cup of tea during the course of the day.

A relaxing massage. I have one of those scheduled soon, so I look forward to it.

Uninterrupted reading.

Sleeping in my nice, warm bed.

Watching anime or YouTube videos while cycling on my exercise bike. Fantasy anime and videos on media analysis or animals are especially nice.

A visit to the chiropractor. I always feel better after an adjustment!

Cuddling. I don’t mean romantic cuddling, but cuddling with an animal or platonic cuddling with someone I trust. Hell, there are actually professional cuddlers who help people who need that sort of contact regularly. Sadly, I don’t have the time/money/energy for a pet at this time, and there are no professional cuddlers in my area, so it’s not something I get to do often.

Doctor Who!

Something sweet to eat! Can’t be too sugary or too often for health reasons, but I still love when I can have a little indulgence.

Going ghost hunting! That might just be a me thing, but it works.

It may be very haunted, but all I ever feel when I’m at the Ohio State Reformatory is joy.

Writing! Working on my stories helps me most days relax after a long day of work. Though, like yesterday, there are days where I’m too tired to even do that.

And that’s all I can think of at the moment. Plus, this post is getting long. So, I’ll just say this: take care of yourself. When you need it, take some time for self-care. Otherwise, when you do have free time, you won’t even be able to do the things you normally love doing (such as me when I couldn’t write).

What do you do when you need some self-care? Anything on this list you’d add? Let’s discuss.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to bed so I have strength for work tomorrow. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Positive Anxiety and Writing

Posted: January 17, 2026 in Living and Life, Reflections, Writing
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Nobody likes feeling anxiety. The tightening chest, the quickening heartbeat, the cold sweat and the panicky thoughts. It makes us dread the future and even the present. You look anywhere online, you’ll find numerous articles about how to combat anxiety that range from medication to breathing exercises to a variety of cognitive exercises. And in our crazy world, there’s never been a higher need for those combat tools.

But what if I told you there’s a form of anxiety that’s good for you? A form of anxiety that helps you?

A growing body of research suggests that we might be looking at anxiety all wrong. Rather than treating everyday anxiety as a disease or a problem, as we’ve been doing for decades, we need to see how anxiety can positively affect us. Known as “positive anxiety” or “good anxiety,” this anxiety helps us in our daily lives. According to the articles I read (which I will link to below), anxiety reminds us of uncertainties in the future, how those uncertainties can affect us, and to plan how to deal with them.

In other words, anxiety can give you a to-do list against unknowns and negative scenarios, and even increase your productivity as part of dealing with those unknowns.

Now, I’m not saying all anxiety is positive. Anxiety disorders, which are when constant or reoccurring anxiety impairs your life and makes it hard to function (like what I’ve had since 2018), are serious medical diseases and should be treated accordingly. I know my GAD improved dramatically with medication, coping techniques, and talking therapy. And with anxiety being a daily occurrence, we all could use ways to cope, including avoiding sources of anxiety.

However, emotional regulation isn’t about avoidance or immediate pacification. Instead, it’s about feeling/recognizing your emotions, and engaging with them in a healthy manner. And using anxiety to motivate you, rather than paralyze you or force you into a safe zone, sounds like healthy engagement to me.

So, why am I bringing all this up? Because I’ve been feeling positive anxiety on a more frequent basis. With the pitch sessions back in June; with phone meetings with some of the people I pitched to; and when I’m about to start a big project. I felt it most recently when I had a couple of stories to edit. Overall, the beta readers liked the stories, but they had a lot of notes. And that kind of made me anxious. Would I be able to incorporate that feedback? Would I be able to bring out the full potential of these stories before I started shopping them around?

Rather than run away (AKA never work on those stories again), I decided to start small. At least get started on the projects and see what I can do, I thought. Then, if it goes well, keep going. Lo and behold, that worked and I was able to get started on the edits. And while I’m not sure any of the stories are as good as they could be, they’re definitely at a point where I wouldn’t mind sending them out to publishers.

And when I was doing the pitch sessions, I felt anxious, but I didn’t let that take control. Instead, I started making plans. I did research on all the agents/editors accepting pitches, learned from others what the pitches were like and what to expect, and practiced several times. And while I’m still working on finding The Shape of Evil a home, I’m happy to say that I made great progress on that front because of the pitch sessions and and the prep I did for them.

Anxiety can sometimes work with your writing career, rather than against it.

So as it turns out, anxiety can be a help when it comes to writing. It can also be a hindrance, no doubt (so many writers I know deal with mental health struggles, same as me). But we can use it motivate, plan, and accomplish our goals. How do we do that?

Well, first off, if you feel anxiety, take a deep breath (that really does work). And if the anxiety is negatively impacting your life, discuss it with a medical or psychological professional. Believe me, therapy and medication can work. But after those steps, do the following:

  • Identify what’s giving you anxiety. Is it starting a project? Trying to get it published? Once you figure it out, you can work on the next steps:
  • Figure out what you ultimately want to do. If you want to move forward, you need to state your goal.
  • Make a plan with steps on how to accomplish your goals. I would recommend doing that with any goal, but doing that to help with anxiety works. Especially if you factor in balancing your mental health with breaks and whatnot. And finally:
  • Go and do the thing. Once you get it done, your anxiety will become a thing of the past, and it’ll be easier to repeat the tasks that give you anxiety in the future.

Anxiety can be rough. But there are benefits to anxiety, and if you figure out how to use anxiety to your advantage, it can help you reach your goals. Just don’t neglect your mental health if you seriously need to care for yourself. After all, the most important thing is that you’re able to function and enjoy life to the fullest. Everything beyond that is just to enhance your enjoyment of that life.

Sources:
How we misunderstand anxiety and miss out on its benefits, University of California
Good Anxiety Does Exist. Here’s How You Can Benefit From It, NPR

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