Archive for the ‘Progress Report’ Category

My First Publishing Acceptance of 2025!!!

Posted: January 12, 2025 in Living and Life, Non-Fiction, Progress Report, Reflections, Writing
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Photo by Designecologist on Pexels.com

Oh happy day! Not only is Symphony for Walpurgis is now available on Apple Books (see my last post), but I just got my first acceptance of the year today! God, if only I had ice cream and beer on hand, I would be partying right now!

Maybe I’ll get some when I go to see Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare tomorrow…

Anyway, I’m sure you’re all curious to know what’s been accepted for publication. Well, it’s an essay, and it’s going to appear in Trollbreath Magazine, a speculative fiction magazine that publishes a wide variety of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. They’re rather new, but they already seem to be doing well, and I’m excited to be able to help set the tone for the non-fiction pieces they publish in the future.

You can learn more about, get back issues of, and support Trollbreath Magazine by visiting their website here.

As for the essay they’re publishing, it’s “Being in the Fallout: Options to Take When Your Heroes Reveal a Dark Side.” Inspired by the allegations against Neil Gaiman last year (and which I make reference to in the essay), I look at some of the paths fans can take when their idols turn out to have really disgusting views or have committed horrible acts. The Gaiman allegations really upset me in particular, and wondering how I should treat him and his work in the wake of that inspired me to write the essay.

So, between now and March 1st, when Trollbreath’s spring issue comes out, we’ll edit the essay to make sure it’s up to snuff. I’m looking forward to the creative process and to seeing it in the final product.

You know, despite current events being a total shit show, things have been going mostly well for me. Especially in the writing department! I’ve been making strides in both writing new stories and getting Symphony for Walpurgis in people’s hands. Plus, one of the sensitivity readers for The Shape of Evil has been sending me updates every now and then, and from what they said, they like it so far.

And now this. My first acceptance of the year! All within the first two weeks of 2025. What’s going to happen with the other 50? Actually, don’t tell me. I want to find out for myself. Still, it makes me think that if I keep working hard, things will keep working out for me this year. Who knows? By this time next year, I could be on my way to writing full time.

But in the meantime, I would like to thank Trollbreath Magazine for accepting my essay for publication, and I want to thank my critique group for giving me feedback on my essay. I literally couldn’t have done it without any of you.

Now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be reading before heading to bed. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

“Symphony for Walpurgis:” Now Available from Apple Books!!!

Posted: January 12, 2025 in Novelette, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, Writing
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Hello, my Followers of Fear. Once again, I have news regarding my upcoming book, “Symphony for Walpurgis.” For those of you who are not familiar, the book contains nine novelettes featuring tales of cryptids, malevolent spirits, and a Jewish exorcism, among other things, and will release May 1st, 2025.

Previously, the book was only available for preorder from Amazon and Kobo. But now, it’s available from Apple Books! So, if you prefer to read on an Apple device, you are now hooked up. I will include links to all the stores below. Currently, the book is only available as an ebook, but paperbacks will be available on release day from Amazon, and they will be available to preorder from Barnes & Noble once I can get those links up. (Waiting for my vendor’s license to be approved.)

Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll be sure to let you know if there’s any updates on this awesome book. If you end up preordering the book, I hope you’ll read it and leave me a review on whatever site you bought it from. Reviews not only help me, but other readers as well.

Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Amazon
Apple Books
Kobo

Announcing My Next Book: “Symphony for Walpurgis”

Posted: January 6, 2025 in Novelette, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, Writing
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Happy New Year, my Followers of Fear! I hope 2025 is treating you well so far. For me, it’s not so bad. Sure, there’s been heavy snow these past couple of days, but I’m indoors and don’t mind it so much.

Anyway, I’m pleased to announce that my latest book is now available for preorder. And what is that book, you’re asking? Why, it’s a new collection called Symphony for Walpurgis!

Not a bad cover, right? I designed it myself based on one of the stories in the collection.

Speaking of which, the collection is made up of nine novelettes, four of which have already been published. Those are “Blood and Paper Skin,” about a group of older teens who end up locked up in someone’s private basement; “Disillusionment and Trauma Sometimes Go Hand-in-Hand,” which features my famous monsters, the dragon bats; “Cressida,” about a mermaid who bears a mysterious resemblance to a girl who supposedly died years before; and “Natural Predators,” about a new pandemic with startling implications for the fate of humanity.

The five other stories will be “The House on Lafayette Square,” an exorcism story with a Jewish twist to it (yay for more Jewish horror!); “Mother of Spiders,” about one town’s dirty secret and the woman who comes to collect her dues; “Famous,” about a wannabe starlet who will do anything to achieve the fame she deserves; “The Little Goddess of Horror,” about a rather famous and unusual actress; and “The Parasite Man,” about a powerful lawyer whose family comes under attack from a relentless spirit.

I’m so looking forward to you all reading this book. I’ve scheduled it to come out on Thursday, May 1st, 2025, the actual date of Walpurgisnacht (think Halloween in spring for witches, if you’re unfamiliar). Currently, it’s only available to preorder as an ebook from Amazon and Kobo. And for some reason, Amazon doesn’t allow preorders for paperbacks published through their platform (yeah, I think it’s stupid, too). But I’m working on getting it available to preorder through Barnes & Noble and Apple Books, and B&N actually allows preorders for paperback books. So, sit tight. As soon as that’s ready, I’ll let you know.

And in the meantime, if you would like to preorder a copy from the stores where it’s currently available, I’ll leave links below. I hope you’ll check it out. And when it releases this May and you read it, I hope you’ll leave reviews online. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me out in the long run.

Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m being allowed to work from home tomorrow, but that doesn’t mean I can slack off. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Amazon
Kobo

“The Shape of Evil:” The Second Draft is Finished!!!

Posted: December 24, 2024 in Novel, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, Writing
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A temporary cover for The Shape of Evil. I think it captures the idea of the novel pretty well.

‘Twas the night before Christmas (and Hanukkah, coincidentally). And all the Haunted Condo, only the Rami was stirring. Because he’d finished the second draft of The Shape of Evil, AKA the 3D Printer from Hell story, and he’d only just gotten around to drinking the celebratory wine and writing the celebratory blog post.

Doesn’t rhyme, but I’m not much of a poet, so I think it’s okay.

So, as I said before, The Shape of Evil‘s second draft is now complete. And this novel, as I also said before, is about a 3D printer from Hell. I started writing it back in March, thinking it would be a novelette or short novella, and finished it as a novel back in August. Right around Thanksgiving, I began work on the second draft, and I finished it earlier today.

I would’ve celebrated right then and there, but at that point, I had to run an errand, then grab some takeout, and then do my usual routine of watching Die Hard on Christmas Eve. But now that that’s taken care of, it’s time to let you know and celebrate!

Overall, I saw a ton of improvement with the second draft. Not just with spelling/grammar/punctuation, but in finding plot holes and fixing issues I missed in the first draft. I also took out a lot of stuff that I thought worked for the first draft but, on the second go around, didn’t work. The final result was ten pages and around twenty-eight hundred words longer, at 283 pages (8.5 x 11 inch paper with 12-point Times New Roman font, double spaced), and 75,300 words. That’s about two thousand words less than the first Harry Potter novel (no, I will never stop using that book as a good comparison, even if the author is now a TERF).

So, what’s next for The Shape of Evil? Well, I plan to find a beta reader who can also double as a sensitivity reader. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my main character is non-binary trans, and I’m cisgender, so I would like someone from the trans community to read the manuscript and give me feedback to ensure I’m respectful to the community. I already have a few people in mind, so hopefully one of them would be interested. And if not, I have a few other ways to find someone.

Whoever reads it, after I get their feedback, I’ll do another draft. And after that draft is done, I think I’ll be ready to pitch this novel to agents. Particularly anyone at StokerCon this coming summer.

In the meantime, I have a new short story I want to write, and I have a new collection to start the work of self-publishing. No, I am not slowing down. I’m brimming with too much drive and imagination, and am nowhere near burnout, so I’ll keep plowing on!

(That being said, I am planning on spending at least one day in the coming week or so just chilling on the couch in my pajamas and reading or watching anime. It’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, so no time like the present!)

Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll certainly be back soon with more news for you. Until then, good night, pleasant nightmares, and to all those who celebrate, Merry Christmas! May we all get visited by three spirits (whether we want them to come or not).

An Update on “Hannah and Other Stories”

Posted: December 16, 2024 in Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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So, I have an announcement regarding Hannah and Other Stories. If you’re unaware, Hannah and Other Stories is a collection I wrote that was published by BSC Publishing Group on September 23, 2023. The collection contains tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things.

The collection has been well-received, if the reviews I’ve gotten are anything to go by. Unfortunately, sales have not been as good as they might have been, despite my best efforts, and, with my contract ending earlier this year, BSC Publishing has decided to relinquish the rights to publish the book back to me on January 1st, 2025.

Which means on January 1st, 2025, Hannah and Other Stories will go out of print.

Honestly, I’m going through several emotions at the moment. But the major one is acceptance. It is what it is, and I’ll always be grateful for BSC helping me get Hannah to the level it was. Trust me, I have a feeling it wouldn’t be as well received as it was without their help on the later drafts. Having to go through this kind of sucks, but I know it could be a lot worse.

And I also feel hopeful and determined. You see, once the rights are back in my hands, I can publish the book again, either with another publisher or self-publish. And I think I’ll self-publish. Not immediately, but at some point in 2025. I’ll release Hannah and Other Stories again, and it’ll be the same great book as before.

Well, with some changes. BSC’s business model called for only selling paperbacks if there’s enough demand for the ebook. Now, I’ll be able to publish a paperback, which I’m sure plenty of people who haven’t converted to ebooks yet will appreciate.

I also plan to return the Lovecraftian elements to “What Errour Awoke,” one of the stories in the collection. BSC wasn’t a fan of the Lovecraftian and wanted me to take them out. In the end, we compromised and made it semi-cosmic, but it’s never sat right with me. Now, I have an opportunity to make that story the way it was supposed to be, rather than how it was. (I may make a few more changes, but that’s the big one.)

And I think I’ll shell out for a new cover. Something I think will not only attract readers, but symbolize the book’s rebirth to a tee.

2025 is going to be full of possibilities.

So yeah, Hannah and Other Stories is going away for a while. But it’ll come back sometime in 2025, better than ever and in paperback, too. And if it does well enough? Maybe an audiobook version as well. It could happen.

For now, though, if you haven’t read Hannah yet, you still have fourteen days and about five hours to get an ebook copy. Even if you don’t read ebooks, buying a copy will help me in the long run and show me that there is plenty of demand for this book. And if you do read ebooks, please read it. And then leave me a review so I know what you thought. Not only will I really appreciate it, but it’ll help when Hannah eventually returns.

Hmm…between Hannah and the collection I’ve been working on, 2025 is looking like the year for collections. Maybe I’ll do a third as well? Well, we’ll see. However many I release, I hope they all do well.

Anyway, that’s all for now. Links for the book are below. Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and thank you for always supporting me. It means the world to me.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
Fable
Goodreads
Kobo
Wook

Updates on My Plans & My Stories

Posted: December 2, 2024 in Living and Life, Progress Report, Writing
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Well, we’re officially in December. 2024 ends in just 29 days. I would say thank God, but I’m not convinced 2025 will be much better. Still, gotta be optimistic. Gotta keep plugging along. Gotta keep making plans, writing stories, and making things in my mind into realities.

And that’s what I’m doing now. Making plans, writing stories, and making them into reality.

First, my Israel trip. That’s fast approaching. And assuming the ceasefire with Hezbollah holds and nothing else happens, I should still be able to go. It’s been nearly a decade and a half since I was last there, so I’m really hoping things calm down a bit and move towards resolution.

In the meantime, I’ve started on the second draft of The Shape of Evil, AKA the 3D printer from Hell story. In fact, I’m already a fourth of the way through the draft! I’m averaging a chapter every time a night, starting from the night before Thanksgiving. Considering that it took me six months to get through the first draft, moving through the book this fast is a dream come true! I might be done well before I fly out later this month.

I hope so, anyway. When I started thinking up this story, and I realized that my three main characters would each have a disability, with the lead being non-binary, I felt this story would be important. And after the events of last month, I feel like this book could be timely. No, it is timely. And I’m determined to get it in the best shape so that when I pitch in June, I can find a home for it sooner rather than later.

Me every evening, working on the next big thing.

And after the second draft is done? Well, whether I go on my trip or not, I have a plan. I’ll find a beta reader/sensitivity reader for The Shape of Evil, and then work on three goals: writing a bunch of new short stories; editing three novellas; and putting out a new collection in the spring. The first two, I’ll be switching on-and-off working on. First a new short story or novelette, then one of the novellas I worked on earlier this year. Then another short story, then another novella, and then…well you get the idea.

With any luck, I’ll be able to start shopping these novellas I’ve written as a collection at some point, while also have a bunch of shorter stories to submit to every publication I can find.

As for the new collection, I’ll start in January or February by announcing the title, revealing the cover and release date, and getting the marketing machine rolling. I’m honestly very excited for you to learn more about this collection. I have a very good feeling about it.

Looking forward to doing this next year!

And if all goes well…who knows? Maybe I’ll somehow find more time for writing and even–finally!–get back to writing my mummy novel, Crawler. Yeah, I know, I know. I keep saying I will, and then something puts it further down the To Do list. But I will get it done. You’ll see. I’m making it a goal.

In the meantime, if you would like to support me while I work on all these projects, or if you’re in the mood for something scary to read, or if you’re looking for a good gift for the horror fan in your life, why not consider getting one of my books? Not only would it be a great gift for yourself or for someone you know, but you’d be giving me a gift as well.

Besides, plant/human hybrids? Strange gods? Mafia hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses? I got something for every horror fan, including free stuff! So, why not check them out? I’ll leave a button for my Books page below. Look and see what calls to you.

Rami Ungar’s Books

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m going to at least try to start on the next chapter of The Shape of Evil (as I recall, this next one is rather long). Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

“White Leaves” Will Be Podcasted Friday!!!

Posted: October 30, 2024 in Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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Some of you may remember me announcing a while back that my short story, “White Leaves,” was going to be narrated on the Tales to Terrify podcast. The story follows what happens to an apartment complex when it wakes up to a sea of white leaves outside on their lawns. And this morning, I was informed that the story will be narrated on their Halloween episode this week (rather fitting, given that the story takes place on Halloween).

And guess what else? This is going to be Episode 666 of the podcast! What a devilishly crazy coincidence!

But man, this is turning out to be a really good week for me. First, I took the week off for mental health reasons, and have found myself healing by leaps and bounds with every passing day. Second, the radio play featuring “Hannah” from Hannah and Other Stories will air tomorrow night as part of WCBE 90.5’s annual Halloween show. Third, I got some good news this week on something else I’ve written (can’t say what it is yet, but it’s big). And now, “White Leaves” is going to be airing on Friday! I can’t wait!

Anyway, I hope you’ll check out Episode 666 when it airs. And in the meantime, why not check out Episode 565, which includes my previous work narrated by Tales to Terrify, “The Dedication of the High Priestess.” I’ll include the link below. And I hope when the radio show airs tomorrow at 7 PM EST, you’ll tune in for that as well (link below as well).

And if any of these stories give you the bug for my stories, I’ll include a link for my Books page below. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, there’s something for every horror fan to enjoy. And if you like what you read, please leave a review online. They help me, and other readers as well.

Anyway, that’s all for now. I have a pumpkin to carve before dinner. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Tales to Terrify episode 565
WCBE 90.5
Book Links & Excerpts

Some Exciting News to Share!!!

Posted: October 20, 2024 in Living and Life, Progress Report, Writing
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I just posted my plans on here, and then some things happened that threw wrenches in those plans. However, they’re the kind of wrenches that I’m actually kind of happy got thrown into the plans. And, with new plans comes new announcements to make. So, let’s get to it!

Update on the Radio Interview and Radio Play

Last month, I told you guys that I had been interviewed by the host/producer for a program of a local radio station, Doug Dangler. That interview will be appearing at some point on Sunday, October 20, 2024 on the website for Doug’s show, The Craft (you can find it HERE). An excerpt from said interview will air on WCBE 90.5 here in Columbus at 8 PM EST (you can check out the station HERE).

In addition, Doug does a Halloween show every year where students adapt short stories into radio plays, and my short story “Hannah” from Hannah and Other Stories will be one of the adapted short stories. According to the update today, the show will premiere on October 31st, 2024 at 7 PM EST.

I’m really excited, as this is the first time a story of mine has been adapted into a different medium (I don’t count audio book or podcasted readings, as those are just a form of reading using your ears). I hope you’ll join me as “Hannah” makes her debut as a radio play, and I’ll be sure to publish a post the day of so you’re reminded and can check it out when it airs.

Meanwhile, I wonder if I can convince any friends of mine to sit in my condo with me and listen to it live…?

I Have a New Collection on the Way

After Thursday’s blog post, I realized that I wasn’t satisfied with writing three more stories and then editing everything I’ve been working on this past year. To me, that felt like too much of a delay in getting these stories out to you. And I’ve been planning on putting out one or two more collections, anyway (once all the stories within them had been given a couple of rounds of editing, of course).

So, I decided that, instead of waiting until those three stories are written, I’d instead edit some of the ones I’ve already written, put them in one of the collections, and then put out that collection!

Now, I don’t have many details to share right now, other than the collection will have some original stuff and some previously printed stuff; it’ll have a theme; I’ll be self-publishing this time around; and it probably won’t come out until some time next year. But before all that, there are two stories I need to edit, as well as a few I want to give a quick look over before I put them out into the world.

After I’ve done that, I can start on things like a title and a cover and a release date.

Until then, my Followers of Fear, you can read any of my other works by checking out my Book Links and Excerpts page, which is linked through the button below. From strange gods and plant/human hybrids to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan. So if you’d like to support me, or you’re just looking for something spooky to read, my oeuvre is a good place to start!

Also, if you could leave a review, that would be a huge help to me and to future readers as well.

Book Links and Excerpts

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

Updates on What I’m Doing

Posted: October 17, 2024 in Living and Life, Progress Report, Writing
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Occasionally, there’s a lot I want to post about, but none of it is enough for a new blog post on its own. In those moments, especially when it’s been a minute since I last posted, I like to do a little (ha ha!) post with quick updates about what I’m working on lately and things going on in my life.

So, without further ado, let’s get to some updates!

Working on New and Shorter Works

As many of you know, I spent most of last year editing various stories, especially those in Hannah and Other Stories. After the Great Editing was over, I wanted to do nothing but write new things, and a lot of them, too. And I’ve done just that, working on one short story, a couple of novelettes, two novellas, and, much as I didn’t expect it to, a new novel (more on that below). In total, I’ve written six new stories. One, “White Leaves,” will be published on an upcoming episode of the Tales to Terrify podcast, another is with an alpha reader, and the others need a second draft.

Looking forward, I have three new stories I want to work on. One, a story set in the Cthulhu Mythos, I’m currently writing an outline for. Once all three are done, I’ll actually edit some of these stories and try to get them published.

Shape of Evil and Crawler

Remember I mentioned above I wrote a novel? That novel, The Shape of Evil, was originally supposed to be a novelette or a novella, but I guess the story had other plans. Otherwise, I would have hesitated before committing to such a long project. Anyway, the story is about a 3D printer from Hell, and I plan to do a second draft of it in December. While the novel took me six months to write, I’m hoping the editing takes only a few weeks to two months.

Afterwards, I plan to get a beta/sensitivity reader to look at it (the protagonist is a non-binary teen, so I want to make sure I’m representing the community in a way that’s positive), and do another draft based on their feedback. After that…well, I want to pitch this story at StokerCon next year. See if I can find an agent or publisher for it right off the bat. We’ll see what happens.

And as for my mummy novel, Crawler, yes, I still plan to finish it. I need to finish all these other stories and then edit some of them, but yes, I still plan to finish it. I hate that I haven’t worked on it for so long, but I will get it done. Just you wait and see.

Upcoming Events

As many of you know, I have a big day on October 26th, 2024, here in Columbus. First, the downtown library will be hosting HWA Ohio for an event called Scary Saturday. It’ll be a big day full of readings, short lectures, fun and spooky games, and plenty of local authors selling their books, among other things. I’ll be there selling copies of Rose and giving a lecture on how horror can be therapeutic to some readers, as well as generally helping out.

And then in the evening, some of us will be heading over to the Thurber House, a local writing-focused organization, for their Halloween celebration to do readings and attend spooky tours. I’ll be reading from Rose and selling whatever copies are left over. Should be a good time.

And while I might be doing fewer events next year (can you blame me in this economy?), I do have a few I’m already scheduled to attend. I’ll be at Akronomicon in Akron, OH on February 1st, 2025, and I’ll be at Halfway to Halloween in Ann Arbor, MI on May 11th, 2025. Both sound like big events, so I’m looking forward to being there for the very first time.

And if other events come up, I’ll be sure to let you all know.

Other Stuff

There are some things I would like to discuss in detail here, but I’m not ready to do so just yet. I will say that I’m doing more to take care of my physical and mental health due to changes in my life. I am working out and eating healthier these days for the former, and I’ve noticed a vast improvement.

As for my mental health, I’m just doing a lot of different things, including finding time for self-care and talking to the right sort of people, to make sure life’s worries and cares don’t get me down. I’ve also noticed a vast improvement on this.

(Though for both, there is still room to improve).

Finally, a big announcement: I’ll be going to Israel at the end of the year.

I know, I know, there’s a war and I disagree with A LOT of what Israel’s government does. However, I do feel that the Land of Israel is my homeland and maybe the last refuge for me and my fellow Jews on this Earth. And it’s important at this time for my people to ensure this country continues to exist, whatever our feelings about the current situation.

Besides, I haven’t been since I was 17 and a friend of mine is getting married there, so I guess no time like the present.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you’re as excited to read the works above I mentioned once they’re ready. In the meantime, if you want to support me, or you’re just looking for a good scary story (and I figure you would be, with only fourteen days to go to Halloween), I have plenty of good stories for you to check out. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan, including some free stuff. I’ll leave a button below if you want to check out my work. And if you do, be sure to leave a review so I know what you thought.

Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Book Links and Excerpts

“Hannah and Other Stories” is One Year Old Today!!! Plus, Some Exciting News!!!

Posted: September 23, 2024 in Living and Life, Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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Pop the champagne! Run wild through the streets with hardly any clothes on! Propitiate the horror gods with sacrifices, lest you be eaten by monsters! Hannah and Other Stories is a year old today!

So, if you were unaware, Hannah and Other Stories is my second collection and my fifth book overall. The collection contains seven short stories, among which are tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things. Yes, you read that right. Carnivorous horses! They’re horrifying and will get you when you least expect them!

Honestly, it’s hard to believe that this collection has been out a year. I started collecting the stories and then shopping them around to publishers in 2021, at the height of the pandemic. In October of that year, while I was on vacation, BSC Publishing Group told me they wanted to publish them and sent me a contract! Over the next year and a half, we worked to get the stories up to scratch, finally releasing them on September 23, 2023. And here we are today, at the one-year anniversary of the release!

And I’ve been doing a lot for this anniversary. In addition to the usual posting to social media, I created a book trailer, which you can watch below.

Pretty cool, huh? Personally, I think it’s my best work yet! And hopefully it conveys the terror within Hannah.

But this isn’t the only thing I’ve been doing for Hannah and Other Stories. I also did a radio interview recently that should air soon. Yes, you read that right as well. A real radio interview, for a show about artists and writers’ techniques and processes for creating their work called The Craft. I’ll post more details when I can, so you can listen to it live with me.

But more than that, I have a big announcement to make: the title story of the collection, Hannah, is going to be adapted into an audio play!

You see, the guy who produces The Craft, Doug Dangler, does a yearly show where short stories are adapted into audio plays for Halloween, and Hannah is going to be one of those stories! For those of you who don’t know, Hannah follows some ghost hunters who sneak into an abandoned school to ghost hunt, and find more than they expected. Anyway, the story will be adapted and acted out by local high school students, and I can’t wait to see what these kids are able to do. I’ll be sure to let you know when the show airs, but it should be around late October.

With all this going on, I hope this leads to a lot of people checking out Hannah and Other Stories, as well as leaving reviews. The reviews I’ve gotten so far have been rather positive. Take a look:

I just finished Hannah and Other Stories by Rami Ungar. This is a great little collection. Stories range from ghost hunting to the dangers of social media to diabolical new friends and Lovecraftian horrors and more. Had this on my TBR for a while and finally pulled the trigger to finish (the adhd is strong). Very fun collection and I would recommend it and am excited to see his future work. I give it a 4/5.

Dustin Allen, Amazon

This collection of seven stories had me hooked from the get-go. Each story has a little bit of everything: horror, occult, revenge, betrayal, ghosts, and so much more. Every story is solid and unique. Expertly crafted and well told. If you are a fan of horror anthologies, this is an absolute must-read. I’m still thinking about some of the stories. Good stuff. Check it out!

5 severed fingers out of 5

Yeti Reads and Reviews, Goodreads

There are horror stories set in houses across the street and in apartments next door. There are also horror stories set in exotic locations like the Catacombs of Paris. There are even horror stories set in imaginary worlds of cosmic horror and monstrous gods. And then there is Rami Ungar’s collection which manages to be all those things at once. This is what makes these stories so special: a combination of exotic and familiar; Ohioan farmlands and Romantic paintings; Lovecraftian gods and suburban ennui. The stories in this collection range from a traditional haunting with a strange twist at the end (“Hannah”) to a postapocalyptic small-town horror reminiscent of Stephen King’s Cell (“The Red Bursts”); from an unfortunate encounter on a Parisian rooftop (“The Autopsy Kid and Doctor Sarah””) to a rather more optimistic, though equally bizarre, Beauty-and-the-Beast meeting in the Catacombs (“Poor Unfortunate Souls”); from a creepypasta (“Queen Alice”) to a Renaissance poem coming to life on social media and in the Midwest (“What Errour Awoke”). My own favorite story is “Fuseli’s Horses,” which seamlessly blends the famous Romantic painting of The Nightmare by Henry Fuseli with the realities of farmwork and growing up in rural America. It is not the combination I would ever think of, but the story is flawlessly plotted and executed. The stories in this collection combine moments of visionary beauty and visceral horror, perfect for the genre’s afficionados. Rami Ungar is a writer to watch!

Elana, Goodreads

Along with the titular story, “Hannah”, this collection from the Master of Fear comprises 5 other short stories and a novelette.

There is a certain level of intense imagination, dread-filled atmosphere, and relatable characters that I’ve come to expect from Ungar’s short stories. The last three stories in this collection certainly delivered all these qualities and more.

This is an enjoyable anthology, with solid stories. At times, the political message in some of the stories detracted from the characters and plot. It worked best in “The Red Bursts”, where it layered seamlessly with other thematic elements without distracting from the story.

“Hannah and Other Stories” is a worthy addition to the bookshelves of the Followers of Fear.

Iseult Murphy, author of “Gone But Not Forgotten,” Amazon

Sorry, I couldn’t help but want to post some of these reviews. They’ve all been overwhelmingly positive! And if more people read the book and leave reviews, with any luck we’ll get a paperback edition soon. Yeah, BSC Publishing is waiting until we’ve reached a certain threshold in sales and reviews before giving the okay on a paperback. I’ve been working since well before the book came out for this, and I’m hopeful the first anniversary will bring it about.

Anyway, if you would like to read Hannah and Other Stories, I’ll post links below. And if you like what you read, please leave a review somewhere so that I, as well as other readers, know what you thought. Plus, reviews help me out so much in the long run.

Thank you, my Followers of Fear. I’m so grateful for all the support you give me everyday, and especially over the last year. I hope the next year brings plenty of amazing things for my career, as well as Hannah.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
Fable
Goodreads
Kobo
Wook

One more thing, Followers of Fear: I know I’ve already said this, but this Saturday, September 28th, is the Hidden Marietta Paranormal Expo! If you’re in or around Marietta, Ohio this weekend, stop by the Washington County Fairgrounds. There will be psychics, ghost hunters, and me, doing Tarot readings and selling books. More information can be found on the website here.

Hope to see you there. Until next time, good night (or morning) and pleasant nightmares, my Followers of Fear!

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