Archive for the ‘Novel’ Category

Getting Reprinted for the First Time

Posted: September 16, 2023 in Living and Life, Novelette, Scary Stuff, Writing
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A lot of authors I know get their stories reprinted every now and then. Sometimes, a story previously published elsewhere just fits an anthology or magazine call very well. Plus, it can be a good way to make some extra money, especially if you don’t have anything new that you can submit at the moment (happens to the best of us).

That being said, I’ve never been reprinted before. There are a couple of reasons for that, including not a large enough catalog of previously published works and not finding markets for those stories. At least, until now. Because, my dear Followers of Fear, I just got a story accepted for reprint!

To be specific, I’ll be in Solar Press Book’s first horror anthology, simply titled the Solar Press Horror Anthology volume 1. Here’s the graphic they used yesterday to make the announcement.

Fun fact: Ann O’Mara Heyward is a fellow member of HWA Ohio. As soon as I found out we were going to be in an anthology together, I emailed her to let her know. We’re excited about it.

Anyway, you’re probably wondering which of my stories will be reprinted in the anthology. I’ll tell you: I submitted “The Dedication of the High Priestess,” which follows a young ballerina discovering her true destiny after becoming a model for a famous painter. The story was first released last year on the Tales to Terrify podcast as an audio story (which you can listen to here). This will be the first time the story will appear in a print format.

Though if the story hasn’t been printed before and was originally read aloud on a podcast, is it really a reprint?

Fan art of “The Dedication of High Priestess,” painted in oils by my friend and colleague Iseult Murphy.

Well, I’m sure someone else will do a whole essay or YouTube video on whether or not it counts. The point is, I’m excited for this story to get into a print format and to be my first reprint. I’ve said it before, but I consider “Dedication” to be some of my best work, and has even inspired some amazing fan art, which you can see to the side of this paragraph. So, I’m glad it’s going to have a new venue and maybe find some new fans.

Hell, maybe it’ll inspire some new fan art and even a movie. I can hope!

Anyway, I look forward to letting you know when the Solar Press Horror Anthology volume 1 and “Dedication of the High Priestess” are released. If you’re not into the audio format but want to check out the story, this is a great opportunity to do so.

In the meantime, my Followers of Fear, you know pretty well by now that Hannah and Other Stories will be out in one week. This book is perfect Halloween reading, with tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses. If you would like to preorder it, you can do so with the links below.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
BSC Publishing Square Site
Kobo
Wook

Also, I’m still in the Face of Horror contest, and I need your daily vote to stay in the contest. If you would like to support me, click on the button to do so.

Face of Horror contest

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ve got stuff to do, so I’m going to get on it. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Review: “Boys in the Valley” by Philip Fracassi

Posted: August 25, 2023 in Novel, Review, Scary Stuff
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After reading Philip Fracassi’s book Gothic back in spring (see my review here) and after meeting and sharing a drink with him at Stoker Con in June, I was interested in his new book Boys in the Valley. It helped that there was a lot of advanced buzz around the book. So, I preordered the audio book, and started listening to it earlier this month. What did I think?

Boys in the Valley takes place at St. Vincent’s, a Catholic orphanage for boys in an isolated section of 1905 Pennsylvania. It’s not a terrible place, but it’s not exactly a great place, either. Still, those there try to make the best of it. At least, until one night, when the sheriff shows up with an injured man covered in occultic symbols. The events of that night set in motion the release of a terrible evil and a plot that will test everyone in the orphanage. And failure of that test may lead to consequences worse than death.

Gothic was good, but I liked Boys in the Valley better.

The best part of the story is the cast, and it goes to show Fracassi’s skill as a writer at how well he juggles an ensemble cast. Among the characters are Peter, a young man who is training for the priesthood (though he also has feelings for a local farmer’s daughter) and who views himself as part of a long line of St. Vincent boys; David, an angry young man who considers the orphanage a sort of hell; Brother Johnson, a brutish staff member at the orphanage whose journey through the story is fascinating to watch; and Father Poole, the megalomaniac running the orphanage whom I wanted to strangle throughout the book (and it says a lot about the writer that I reacted as viscerally to the character as I do with some politicians).

All these and more characters really made the story come to life for me, as did the story itself. It’s a possession story, but it doesn’t follow the usual trajectory of one, and that makes the direction unpredictable and the twists so much more satisfying. There were several moments where I had no idea what would happen, but desperately hoped for it to go one way and to open my mouth in surprise when it didn’t.

If there were some things I would have liked better, I would have preferred to see some more demonic antics in the novel. That, and I was hoping for a different ending in the final chapter.

But overall, Boys in the Valley by Philip Fracassi is an excellent novel and a fun read. On a scale of 1 to 5, I’m giving the book a 4.6. Heartfelt, with a strong cast and vivid storytelling. Set yourself down with a copy and some communion wine and strap in for the ride.

And if you go with the audio book, you’re in for a treat. The narrator, David Aaron Baker, does an excellent job with the various voices of the characters, shifting from boys and teens with cracking voices to gruff adults in a skillful flash.

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

Review: “Man, Fuck This House” by Brian Asman

Posted: August 15, 2023 in Novella, Review, Scary Stuff
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So, in case you’re wondering, yes, this is a real book, and this is the actual title. Yes, I know, it’s hard to believe. My own mother sent me a meme featuring the book’s Amazon page and how it was the perfect title, thinking it was a fake page. She was so surprised that it was a real book and there’s a Netflix movie in the works, though she wasn’t too surprised to hear that I knew the author.

Anyway, Man, Fuck This House has been on my TBR list for a while, but I haven’t been able to get to it till recently. And with only 158 pages, it was a quick read. But was it a good one? Well, keep reading and find out.

Man, Fuck This House follows the Haskinses, a stereotypical nuclear family with some friction underneath the surface who move from Columbus, Ohio (yay, my home!) to the quiet neighborhood of Jackson Hill out west and to a beautiful new home. However, the house is more than just a pretty structure of timbers and aluminum siding, and it starts to reach out to the family. To communicate. To even terrify them!

So, this book was really funny. From the first couple of pages, I was laughing at the antics of the Haskins family. Most of it is told from the POV of mom and housewife Sabrina, who fully admits to herself that she’s not entirely satisfied with her life, that her husband Hal is kind of dimwitted, and who is terrified that her son is secretly evil (hence why she named him Damien). Speaking of which, Damien’s pretty funny, too: he’s an intelligent old soul who enjoys messing with his mom, though he does go through some growth in the story as well.

I also loved the narration of the story. The plot’s a mostly stereotypical haunted house story, with some twists and references to other haunted house tales (anyone else remember watching Monster House as a kid?). But it’s told in such a funny fashion, you find yourself laughing and enjoying how the author plays with the tropes and typical structure of such stories.

My one gripe is that the book was maybe too short. I mean, I bought it because I needed something short to read, but I feel the story could have gone on a bit longer and still be as funny. We might have even gotten some more character development from Hal and daughter Michaela that way.

But all told, this was a fun, funny, light horror-comedy. On a scale of 1 to 5, I’m giving Man, Fuck This House by Brian Asman a 4.8 out of 5. If you’re looking for something of the funnier variety in your horror that doesn’t use too-crude humor, this is the book for you.

Just make sure you respect and take care of your own house before, during, and after reading, okay? Your lifespan will thank you for it.

The Pure World Comes: One Year Since the Audio Book Released!!!

Posted: August 12, 2023 in Living and Life, Novel, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, Writing
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So, this past Thursday was the one-year anniversary of the release of the audio version of The Pure World Comes. (And yes, I realize this is the second time I’ve missed an anniversary like this in the past couple of months, but I’ve been busy!) And, of course, me being me, I have to mark it. So, let’s start celebrating!

So, if you didn’t know, The Pure World Comes is a Gothic horror novel I wrote during the pandemic. It follows a maid who goes to work for a mad scientist during the Victorian era and what happens to her. Here’s the description on the back cover:

Shirley Dobbins wants nothing more than to live a quiet life and become a head housekeeper at a prestigious house. So when she is invited to come work for the mysterious baronet Sir Joseph Hunting at his estate, she thinks it is the chance of a lifetime. However, from the moment she arrives things are not what they seem. As she becomes wrapped up in more of the baronet’s radical science, she realizes something dark and otherworldly is loose within the estate. And if left unchecked, it’ll claim the lives of all she holds dear.

Not bad, right? I had a lot of fun writing this story. I love the Victorian era (I actually spent five years really researching the era before writing this story) and I kind of made this story into a love letter for both the age and to the Gothic stories that came out during this period, like Frankenstein and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Actually, when I’m selling it at events, I tell people it’s like Frankenstein and Crimson Peak (you know, that Guillermo del Toro movie?) had a baby together. People tend to like that description.

And the reviews the book has received have been enthusiastic. Here’s what they say:

Really enjoyed this! Been a while since I’ve read a Gothic tale and it did not disappoint. I love the twists that it took!

Pax Panic, YouTuber (left on Goodreads before her untimely passing)

What I got was a short novel so perfectly Victorian and utterly Gothic that it made my old-fashioned self giddy as a schoolgirl…Mixing classic-romantic Victorian elements with early science-fiction, tales of Jack the Ripper/Spring-Heeled Jack, and a bit of the occult, this book gives the reader a truly chilling and also slightly fun little Gothic adventure.

HD Daughrity, author of “Tales My Grandmother Told Me.”

The idea of a pure world where pain and suffering doesn’t exist sounds incredible but life is about balance between good and evil. In his book, ‘The Pure World Comes’ Rami Ungar explores the idea.

The main character, Shirley, starts out as a maid, but the reader soon learns that she is mature beyond her years. Her difficult past could however not prepare her for the terrifying experiences she is subjected to. I was on the edge of my seat throughout the book.

The story flows seamlessly and grows in intensity until it explodes at the end. I love stories where the characters evolve with the story. In ‘The Pure World Comes’ we watch Shirley go from being a maid to a brave, super smart young lady who defies the odds.

A great read for anyone who enjoys a mystery thriller sci fi story.

Celeste Wilson, Goodreads reviewer

And these are just a fraction of the reviews I’ve received, the majority of which have been just as enthusiastic.

Sadly, the audio book has only received one review, which is a shame because I think it is awesome! It’s read by Nikki Delgado, who does a fantastic job with all the accents and characters and really helps you immerse yourself in the story. So, I’m really hoping that in the next year, more people will listen to the audio book and maybe even leave reviews.

If you’re interested, I’ll leave links below. Not just for the audio retailers, but for the ebook and paperback retailers as well. And if you like what you read (or listen to), please leave a review or rating other readers and listeners can see what you thought.

Thanks, my Followers of Fear. Also, as we’re 80 days away from Halloween, I wish you happy reading and pleasant nightmares.

The Pure World Comes: Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Goodreads, Audible, Chirp, BingeBooks, LIbro.Fm, Storytel, Palace Marketplace, Hoopla, Vivlio, Smashwords, Thalia, Scribd, Spotify

Speaking of this past Thursday, if you missed the live showing of Galactic Terrors, I have the video of it embedded below. If you’re at all interested, you can watch me, Lara Frater, and Teel James Gleen read from and discuss our recent or upcoming works. I hope you’ll give it a watch and maybe then start watching the new episodes regularly.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.

The Review That Shook Me

Posted: July 26, 2023 in Novel, Review, Scary Stuff, Writing
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How many of you follow booktubers?

If you don’t know what those are, they’re YouTubers who mostly review books. There’s a whole bunch of them devoted to horror. I’ve been following one for a while now. Pax Panic. She was funny, she was enthusiastic, she loved horror and you could tell that, even though her channel was small, it would grow.

I say “was” because she passed earlier this year. Some time ago, she announced she had cancer and was undergoing treatment. I, and the rest of her following, rallied around her, offered her our support. I think there might have been a fundraiser for medical costs, but I’m not sure. Anyway, she went through treatment, and we hoped that was the end of it. But we soon learned that the treatment didn’t take, and she posted that she only had a few months to live.

Obviously, we were upset. We kept watching her and supporting her.

And then a few months ago, her husband posted that she’d passed. And just writing it, I’m feeling a little teary. I don’t get teary-eyed often, but I feel like crying just typing this. She was an amazing person, and it fucking sucks that she had to die so young.

Anyway, her husband said that she recorded a bunch of videos prior to her treatment and death, and that he would be uploading them in her memory. Which I and her other followers appreciated.

And today, a video was uploaded to her channel, a video with reviews of multiple books. One of the books was The Pure World Comes. My Gothic horror novel.

I’ve posted the video below. If you want to watch just her review, it’s from 3:12 to 5:52.

Followers of Fear, I was not expecting this. I sent her a review copy of The Pure World Comes a while ago, and she left a review on Goodreads, and I thought that was that. I never expected that she would include it in a video, let alone one after her death. And she delivered it full of such love for the story and for the concept and how I played with both the Gothic elements and the Victorian elements and the scientific elements.

I appreciate all my reviews (except for ones like the one from a troll who wanted to make fun of me over something in my biography). But this one had me shook emotionally. It was so sweet and unexpected and it really hit me emotionally. These videos always make me feel a little sad, because Pax is no longer with us, but this one…it just amplified both my sadness and my gratitude. Hands down, one of the best reviews I’ve ever received for one of my stories.

Pax, wherever you are, thank you. This meant so much to me. I miss you, and I hope that right now, you’re reading all the scary stories you can dream of.

If you’re at all interested, I highly recommend checking out Pax’s channel and her other videos. She left a lot of material and there’s probably going to be more in the weeks and months to come. It’ll be heartbreaking, but it’ll be worth watching.

And if you’re at all interested in checking out The Pure World Comes after watching Pax’s review, I’ll include links before. For those unfamiliar, it’s a Gothic horror story about a maid in Victorian England who goes to work for a mad scientist. As Pax said, it’s got Gothic with Frankenstein mixed into it.

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 as well.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m still kind of shook, but I’m taking it in stride. I’ll also be heading to bed soon. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

The Pure World Comes: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Goodreads, Audible, Chirp, BingeBooks, LIbro.Fm, Storytel, Palace Marketplace, Hoopla, Vivlio, Smashwords, Thalia, Scribd, Spotify

“Rose:” Four Years Since Release!!!

Posted: June 21, 2023 in Novel, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, Writing
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I can’t believe I missed this milestone! I know I was busy, but man, there’s no excuse.

Anyway, to be precise, Rose was originally released two years ago yesterday. For those of you who don’t know, Rose is my most popular novel, and the first I published with an actual publisher. The novel follows a young woman, Rose Taggert, who turns into a plant/human hybrid. And that’s just the start of her problems! It’s Kafkaesque, full of Japanese mythology, and is plenty creepy.

Here’s the back cover matter:

Rose Taggert awakens in a greenhouse with no clear memory of the past two years and, to her horror, finds her body transformed into an unrecognizable form.

Paris Kuyper has convinced Rose that they are lovers and as Paris could not bear for her to die, he has used an ancient and dark magic to save her from certain death.

But the dark magic Paris has used comes at a price. A price which a terrible demon is determined to extract from Rose.

As Rose struggles to understand what is happening to her, she must navigate Paris’s lies and secrets; secrets that Paris will do anything to protect.

Not bad, right? And let me tell you, plenty of people have come to enjoy the book in that time. Here are the reviews:

Loved the premise and all of the descriptions of turning into a plant creature, as well as several other body horror scenes, were disturbing in the best way. I also liked the psychological horror of the story and was often at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next…Overall, a solid horror story! I feel the strong beginning and surprising and intense ending made this a great horror experience and a book I would definitely recommend.

Emma, Amazon reviewer

One of the most original stories that I have read in quite some time. Rose is a tale that is hard to categorize; part horror, part urban fantasy, but entertaining from start to finish. This was my first time reading Rami Ungar, but it will not be my last.

John Watson, author of “Bloody Mary” and “Salem”

In this work, Rami Ungar paints a captivating picture of Japanese folklore and magic, which serves as a backdrop for a story about captivity, manipulation, and possession! His narrative style also captures the dread and claustrophobia of being a captive, not to mention the twisted pathology of the captor! Scary stuff, and all the while you’re rooting for the bad guys to get their just desserts!

Matthew Williams, author of The Cronian Incident

And these are only a small fraction of reviews Rose has received. As I said, it’s my most popular novel. And I’m hoping in the coming year that it’ll continue to grow in popularity and readership. Hell, I got to give a copy to an author I greatly admire at Stoker Con, so maybe she’ll tweet about it or something.

And if she doesn’t, oh well. Rose is constantly finding its way into the hands of readers, and they usually become fans. Some even leave reviews online, which is great because it lets me know other what they think and encourages other readers to check out the book.

Speaking of which, if you would like to check out Rose, I’ll include links below. You can get it in paperback, ebook, and audio formats. And if you do get a copy and read it, please leave a review online. Like I said, they help me and other readers out, and I would love to see what you think.

Anyway, that’s all for now. I may have missed the four-year anniversary, but I’ll be sure to do something big for the five-year anniversary. And in the meantime, you know I’ll be working like a demon to accomplish my writing goals.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear. Good night and pleasant nightmares!

Rose: Available from Amazon US, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Audible, B&N

Snake: Nine-Year Release Anniversary!!!

Posted: June 10, 2023 in Novel, Scary Stuff, Writing
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What happens when you squish John Wick, Taken, and Friday the 13th into a novel? You might get Snake, the thrilling slasher horror story about a serial killer hunting after members of a powerful mafia family.

My longest published book, Snake was released exactly nine years ago today, in the same year John Wick was originally released (I swear, that’s a coincidence. And I didn’t see it until last year, actually). It was one of the books I had the most fun writing, and I feel like that comes through with my writing. I know, it’s concerning to have fun writing a story about a serial killer who’s the protagonist, but there you go.

Oh yeah, the protagonist in Snake, who is called Snake, is the serial killer. If you didn’t know that, now you do.

And I’m happy to say, there are people who love it. There are some who even find it frightening. Granted, my dad finds it frightening because he doesn’t like to think of his son being able to write such gruesome stuff, but other people simply find it entertaining and/or frightening because I wrote it well enough.

I mean, take a look at the reviews below:

Rami Ungar makes a promise to (the reader) in all his writings: he WILL scare you, and if he does “his job is done.” Snake will scare you. I am a huge Stephen King fan, so this should give you some idea of my tolerance level for gore, death and mayhem – I was scared. Rami takes you into places you would never have believed possible, and manages to pull his hero (and eventually his heroine) out of them against all odds. If you like to be scared. If you LOVE to be scared. You should read this book.

Angela Misri, author of the Portia Adams Adventures

This is the first novel I’ve read by Rami Ungar and i was an entertaining surprise. I read this novel after seeing the author’s post about it and I’m glad I did, even if it was into the wee hours.

Toni V. Sweeney, Amazon reviewer

The first two thirds of this book were killer for me (pardon the pun). I loved all the threads – the serial killer, the mob, the sex trafficking ring, the captured girl, the police trying to catch the Snake and fighting corruption and dissent within their ranks.

I found the psychological exploration of the makings of a killer really interesting. I liked how the author didn’t shy away from the brutal consequences of the killer’s actions.

I also loved Linda, the Irish wolfhound, although it was very foolish of Snake to bring his dog to his crime scenes when he was so concerned about physical evidence.

Iseult Murphy, author of “7 Days in Hell”

I found this an action packed, excellent, read! I actually enjoyed the creative ways Snake dispatched the Mafia members. Also enjoyed how it kept you interested. Thrilling!

Angela Boley, psychic medium and painter

Yeah, that last review is from a real psychic medium and painter. We met at a convention, she bought one of my books, and we’ve become friends since then. And as you can see, she really loved Snake and said she looks forward to reading other books by me in the future. That part isn’t in the review, it’s something she said to me, but it still rings true!

Anyway, if the description and the glowing reviews enticed you, why not check out Snake and give it a read? In honor of the nine-year release anniversary (and my thirtieth birthday, which is around this time as well). I’ll include links below. And if you read it, please let me and others know what you think. Leave a review online, post about it on your social media, whatever. So long as I and others know what you thought, that’s what’s important.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you enjoy Snake and let me know what you think. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Snake is available from Amazon, Createspace, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Smashwords, and Kobo

The Pure World Comes: One Year Anniversary and Sale!!!

Posted: May 10, 2023 in Novel
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One year ago, I published my love letter to the Victorian era and to Gothic literature, The Pure World Comes, in paperback and ebook. The story followed Shirley Dobbins, a maid in 19th-century England who only wants to become a head maid of a great household. So, after the death of her employers, she think she’s hit the jackpot when she’s invited to work for the estate of the baronet Sir Joseph Hunting. However, she soon finds out the manor is not only in need of more than a little TLC, but strange things are occurring there. Things that may be related to the baronet’s research into fringe sciences. And these strange things are turning increasingly dangerous.

Anyway, I can’t believe it’s only been a year since this book came out! So much has happened in that time. But a year has passed, and I’ve been lucky enough that many people are not only reading the book, but loving the hell out of it. As I said, this story is a love letter to the Victorian era and to Gothic literature, and I think I spent five years just doing research before I actually wrote it. I wanted to not only be able to breathe the era, but to have my readers breathe it too. And I think I succeeded on that front. I certainly succeeded in making a toilet scary.

Yes, I made a toilet scary. There’s a scene where a character uses the bathroom and something terrifying happens when she’s done. It’s one of my favorite scenes in the book.

But as I said, a lot of people have discovered and enjoyed the book, and I’ve been lucky enough to get their feedback. Here’s what people are saying:

I love it when I’m pleasantly surprised by a book. Rami Ungar is not a debut author, (according to the back of the book, this is his fourth novel), but his work is new to me and so I went in not knowing what to expect. What I got was a short novel so perfectly Victorian and utterly Gothic that it made my old-fashioned self giddy as a schoolgirl…Mixing classic-romantic Victorian elements with early science-fiction, tales of Jack the Ripper/Spring-Heeled Jack, and a bit of the occult, this book gives the reader a truly chilling and also slightly fun little Gothic adventure

Heather Miller, author of “Tales My Grandmother Told Me.”

Wow Literally Breathe Taking.

This Novella/ Short Story Packed a Powerful Punch. A Gothic Victorian Tale of Heart Retching HeartAche and Disparity to a Glorious Triumph. A Depiction of England around the Same time of White Chapel/and Jack the Ripper. This writers style and depth of description brings the reader right into the story as the events unfold. The Banter between the Characters is so natural. It will surely Become a Classic in its own Right.

This has elements of Dark Shadows Lara Parker (Angelique) books, as well as Thomas Megan and so many Victorian writers including Shirley Jackson

Joan Smith, Goodreads reviewer

There were quite a few things I liked about this book – the attempt to make it historically accurate (required a lot of research), the author’s take on a possible Jack the Ripper scenario (no spoilers!), And the Big Reveal itself. I quite like the idea. I think it has many possibilities and potential uses as a plot device for future (possibly non related) stories. I also listened to Rami’s other novel Rose, and this one is completely different. A little darker, a little more philosophical. Exceptional work.

Ronald Gillepsie, Amazon reviewer

And that’s just a small sampling of what people have been saying. You can read the rest by clicking on the Amazon and Goodreads links below.

And that brings me to some exciting news: in honor of the one-year anniversary, I’m having a sale! From now until May 17th, the ebook will be on sale from all retailers! And the audio book (yeah, there’s an audio book) will be on sale from Chirp, Spotify, Nook Audiobooks and Apple as well during this period. So, if you’re interested in reading the book but might be a little cash-strapped, now is a great time to get a copy and start reading! Links are posted below.

And if you like what you read, please post a review online. Not only will it let me know what you thought and maybe improve my writing, but it’ll let other readers know whether or not to get the book.

Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you all enjoy reading the book, and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!

The Pure World Comes: Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Goodreads, Audible, Chirp, BingeBooks, LIbro.Fm, Storytel, Palace Marketplace, Hoopla, Vivlio, Smashwords, Thalia, Scribd, Spotify

Review: “Gothic” by Philip Fracassi

Posted: April 18, 2023 in Novel, Review, Scary Stuff
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I’ve been hearing about Philip Fracassi here and there for a little while now and was curious to try one of his stories. One or two of his books have even made it onto my TBR list. This one became available to me on Audible, so I snapped it up. And today, while cooking dinner, I finished the audio version of Gothic. Obviously, I have to share my thoughts.

Gothic follows Tyson Parks, a middle-aged horror author who was a big seller in the 90s but hasn’t turned out a hit since and needs one to stay afloat. It doesn’t help that he pitched one book to a publisher and turned in something entirely different to his agent. However, when his wife gets him a new writing desk for his birthday, one with a black stone top and lots of terrifying designs in the wood, he finds himself inspired to write something dark and violent. However, this inspiration, and the source of it, turns him dark and violent as well. And that’s because the desk isn’t just a desk. It’s something old and evil. And it has a terrible purpose in mind for Tyson.

I liked Fracassi’s writing style. He goes into the trials and troubles of a writer, especially one with bills, with both realism and a strong sense of humor. Not to mention, the story itself is dark and intriguing, moving along at a steady clip as you watch Tyson’s descent and how those he loves are pulled along for the ride. Honestly, there were some parts that made me cringe when I read them, they were just so brutal.

And the source of the horror, the writing desk, is a pretty cool concept. Yeah, at first glance it sounds like Christine gone silly, but the damn thing’s scary in more than just looks. Especially as it begins to exert a stronger and stronger influence on Tyson. And in the last fifth or so, elements of In the Mouth of Madness are incorporated, which I enjoyed.

That being said, I was disappointed by the ending. I thought it felt rushed, like Fracassi was trying to meet the same deadline as his character, and he just slapped on an ending that wouldn’t require another ten to twenty thousand words. Part of me wonders if the intention is to give this story a sequel where some of the plot threads are wrapped up and the desk’s influence can be further explored, but I don’t know if that was the intention.

On a scale of 1 to 5, I’m giving Gothic by Philip Fracassi an even 4. With plenty of pain and horror, it’s an entertaining read and worth taking a look at.

Just don’t read it near any antique desks. And if you do, make sure you have the desk’s history and you’re sure it’s not dangerous before you do.

Review: “How to Sell a Haunted House” by Grady Hendrix

Posted: March 27, 2023 in Novel, Review, Scary Stuff
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Two posts in one day. My Followers of Fear, you either did something very good in your past life or very bad. Either way, I finished Grady Hendrix’s latest novel on audio book today, so I’m going to review it here.

How to Sell a Haunted House follows Louise Joyner, a mother of a five-year-old who has a complicated relationship with her family. When her parents die unexpectedly, she flies from San Francisco to Charleston to take care of their estate and put them to rest. However, things are complicated by her younger brother Mark, whose lifestyle and choices puts him in conflict with Louise from day one. As the two argue like children and try to get the estate settled, they soon find that something malevolent is alive within their childhood home. And unless they get their shit together, it may claim not just the both of them, but Louise’s little girl.

The amazing thing about Grady Hendrix is that he can take a concept that sounds ridiculous on paper and write a whole novel out of it that’s both darkly comic and quite terrifying. From an IKEA knockoff built on the grounds of a former prison, to a teenage girl becoming possessed in 1980s-saturated Charleston, he just makes it work. And it’s no different here. Honestly, I found myself laughing quite a bit listening to Mark and Louise act like me and my sisters at our worst times ten. And as you get further in and see just how dysfunctional this family is, you find yourself glad you’re not part of the same family.*

And when you figure out who/what is going to be the main antagonist of the story, you find yourself laughing…only to see how terrifying said antagonist is. And as you see episodes from Louise and Mark’s childhoods and adulthoods that formed them as people, you see elements as these moments come back to literally haunt them in their parents’ homes. It’s freaky, and there were actually times I found myself wincing or shuddering as I listened to these moments.

And underneath all the darkness and comedy, you get some great themes about the effects of generational trauma on family and family dynamics, about learning to deal with death (and explain it to children), and what family actually is. It’s heavy stuff.

I do have some problems with the book, however. I did see a certain twist regarding the antagonist very early on, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. I also thought the resolution of the climax could have been a bit darker and might have ended too sweetly. And I would have liked to see Mark and Louise explore and resolve their issues a bit more. I feel like during the last third of the book, a lot of stuff was skipped over so the novel could reach its end.

But all in all, How to Sell a Haunted House is another awesome release from Grady Hendrix, whom I’m sure will only continue to grow in stature as a storyteller. On a scale of 1 to 5, I award his latest outing a 4.2 out of 5. It’s funny, creepy, and an all-around thrilling story. Grab a copy, settle down, and get ready to either feel grateful for your own family or feel like you’re reading about your relatives (it’s either one or the other, for better or for worse).

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time (which will be sometime before the week is done), good night and pleasant nightmares.

*I actually texted my own sisters to let them know how much I loved them and was glad we got along despite our childhood rivalries and disagreements. They were touched, as well as concerned about me because I was sending that text. Anyway, that’s how I reacted to this family’s malfunction.

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