Well, WordPress is acting weird for me. For some reason I can’t access stats or most other things, and I can’t even contact WP support! Anybody else experiencing this problem? I had to go through some serious hoops just to get this blog post written, let alone published.
Anyway, enough complaining, because I have amazing news! Late last year, after The Great Editing, I wrote the first new story in what felt like forever. “White Leaves” was about the events that occurred in an apartment complex one misty Halloween morning. It was an unusual story, even for me, because it was under three-thousand words for the first draft and was written in the second person. But I was excited about it and was eager to share it with my critique group for feedback.
Well, I submitted the story to the group. And edited the story with their feedback. And, after quite a few submissions and rejections, I’m pleased to announce that “White Leaves” is being published and narrated on the Tales to Terrify podcast!
If this particular publisher sounds familiar to you, it should: Tales to Terrify published and narrated my novelette “The Dedication of the High Priestess” back in 2022. (Click here to listen to that particular episode.) I loved what they did with that story, which I feel is among my best work, and I was eager to have them do it again. And, as luck would have it, “White Leaves” made them “wickedly happy,” as their acceptance email said. So, we’re collaborating again!
Now, it’s not decided when the story will appear on the podcast. They get a lot of good stories and only are able to fit one to two each episode. It could be quite the wait. However, I know that when it’s time, it’ll be great! And I’ll be sure to update you all when it happens.
Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ve got the Columbus Book Festival tomorrow, so I’m going to try to go to bed early tonight and be at full energy tomorrow. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and I hope you’re having as wonderful a time as I am!
A ranch is raising horses with a taste for meat. A creepypasta tale takes on a peculiar life of its own online and in one teenager’s group of friends. Repressed memories brought to the surface during a university English class begin a domino effect leading to something terrifying entering our world. And in one abandoned school, some ghost hunters get way more than what they bargained for during their investigation.
All these stories and more were released into the world six months ago, on a Saturday very much like this, September 23, 2023, when Hannah and Other Stories was released.
Now, if you’re unaware, Hannah and Other Stories is my second collection of short stories and my fifth book overall. It contains seven original short stories, the plots of some of which are up above. But trust me, all the stories are great.
Honestly, it’s been incredible to think that Hannah has been out for six months now. So much has happened since then, it feels like a lot more. And it’s been incredible to see the reader response! Nearly every person who’s read it has responded positively. This makes the nearly two years it took working with the publisher, plus the several months prior writing and editing and double editing the stories, so worth it.
Here’s what people are saying on Amazon and Goodreads, where the book is rated 4.6 on both sites:
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
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” and “7 Days in Hell,” Goodreads
Horrifying stories from Ohio to the Paris Catacombs. This amazing book has 7 horrifying short stories from monsters and ghosts to crazed children. Amazing writing. If I had to pick a favorite story, it would be Queen Alice. But every story was outstanding and creepy. I absolutely loved this book.
Rhonda Bobbitt, Amazon
Budding serial killers, carnivorous horses, and cosmic monsters. This collection has a fun spooky variety all viewed through the weird lens of Rami Ungar’s imagination. I’ve read a few of his books before (The Pure World Comes is a notable one), and Rami has really found his voice here. A couple of my favorites are Autopsy Kid and Queen Alice. Autopsy Kid is visceral and gut-wrenching, a tale about a girl caught in the web of a psychopath. And Queen Alice is truly terrifying in a deep way, a story about the possessive/obsessive power of social media culture. Check it out!
Allen Huntsman, author and YouTuber, Goodreads
Aren’t my mother and I hilarious?
Some pretty good reviews. And there are more out there. I’ll include links below if you’re interested. Also, did I mention my mother texted me the other day and told me she can’t look or even think about horses without thinking about the story I wrote with the carnivorous horses? And if that’s not high praise, I don’t know what is!
I also can’t think of horses without thinking about those carnivorous horses, either. I saw a guy cosplaying as a horse at a convention not too long ago (yes, seriously), and could not think of anything else. Too bad he wasn’t into horror. I think otherwise he might have read the book.
And speaking of which, if you’re interested in reading Hannah and Other Stories, I’ll include links below. Right now, it’s only available in ebook, but if more people keep reading and reviewing the book, it could get a paperback and maybe even an audio book edition. So, even if you don’t read ebook, please consider supporting the book and grabbing a copy.
And if you do read ebooks, please be sure to read this one and to leave a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers along the way. Plus, there’s that whole getting a paperback edition thing.
Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll probably celebrate tonight with some delicious wine and maybe something sweet. Maybe I’ll also do some reading. Perhaps you’ll have a drink and read Hannah with me? I can hope. After all, it is the six month anniversary. Amazing things can happen.
Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
So the other day, I went and made the challenge to figure out whom Hannah from Hannah and Other Stories was inspired by (you can see that post here). I’d been telling people that if they were the first to figure it out, I would write them into a story. And better yet, unlike when that usually happens, it won’t be a punishment.
To my utter delight, quite a few people tried to figure it out. Some got close, some got so far away that I had never heard of their guesses.
And late last night, someone did get the answer right. Congratulations to longtime Follower of Fear and author of cozy Christian mysteries, Priscilla Bettis. Funny thing, she nearly gave up after a few far-off guesses, but after a bit of encouragement, she got it. Good for you, Priscilla. I think I’ve found a role for you in a story I plan to write in the near future. I’ll let you know first if it gets published anywhere.
Now, for the moment you’ve been waiting for. Who is Hannah from Hannah and Other Stories based on? I said she was based on an actual little girl, but which one?
Well, I said the inspiration was an actual little girl, but I never said she was real. You see, Hannah was inspired by Hanako-san, also known as Hanako of the Toilet. Hanako-san is a famous urban legend from Japan about a young girl who haunts the toilets of elementary schools. The legend varies from place to place, but the basic idea is that if you knock on the door of the third stall of the girl’s bathroom on the third floor of the elementary school and call out to Hanako-san, she’ll answer. Or something will answer. Like I said, the legend varies.
Anyway, Hanako-san is one of the most famous urban legends in Japan, and it was the inspiration for Hannah (you can see where I got her name). I had fun adapting the legend to an Ohio setting and exploring what happens when you take Hanako-san out of the bathroom. And now, people are reading the story and are enjoying it. Maybe now they’ll appreciate it more, knowing its origin.
If this has made you curious, you can learn more about Hannah by reading Hannah and Other Stories. I’ll include links below. If you do decide to read it, I hope you’ll leave a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers in the long run.
And once you’ve done that, go look up Hanako-san. It’s a great story, and I’m not the only one finding new ways to tell her story. Hell, there’s a great manga about a male version of her called Hanako-kun that’s currently being serialized. I love it, and you should check it out.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night, happy reading, and pleasant nightmares.
I’ve said for a while that Hannah from Hannah and Other Stories is based on an actual little girl. Since before the story was published, if I remember correctly. But more recently, in social media posts and in the occasional YouTube video or convention reading, I have been saying that if someone figured out who Hannah is based on, I would name a character after them. And unlike when I write other people into my stories, this won’t be a punishment, but something to celebrate.
Yes, you’d be happy to have a character in a Rami Ungar story named after you. Won’t wonders ever cease?
Recently, some people have been getting serious in trying to figure it out. I even had someone get really close when I was at ConFusion earlier this month. And if people are going to get serious, I might as well get serious, too.
So, without further ado, I’m announcing the Hannah Challenge! If you are the first to figure out who Hannah from the short story “Hannah” in Hannah and Other Stories is based on and let me know, I will name a character after you (and you won’t be sorry for the privilege). Just download a copy of Hannah and Other Stories using any of the links below and read the story “Hannah” (and the other six stories, of course).
Then, if you don’t immediately figure it out, try to do some research. Reread the story and notice anything that might help you identify whom Hannah is based on. If you figure it out, reach out to me. Email me, comment on my posts on this blog or my social media, whatever. If you don’t slide into my DMs, find my private number, or show up at my home or work, I’ll be happy to hear your guess.
And if your guess is the correct one and no one else has gotten it right so far, you’ll be the winner! I’ll announce your name on this blog and my social media (possibly with a photo) and see about writing a story with a character named after you as soon as possible. I may even let you read a draft before it gets published.
But, of course, you need to start reading, so below are the links for getting Hannahand Other Stories. And whether or not you figure out who Hannah is based on, I hope you’ll read the rest of the book. And if you do, I hope you let me know what you think in a review or a social media post. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers in the long run.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I have a new story I need to outline. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
As I promised last week, my mermaid horror story “Cressida” is now available for download as a free story.
If you’re not aware, “Cressida” was previously published back in 2021. The story follows a young man who is invited to his uncle’s beach house to visit him and his cousin. The thing is, the cousin committed suicide several years ago, and the young man witnessed her death himself. So, what’s going on at the beach house?
Obviously, you’ll have to read “it “Cressida” to find out.
And if you like “Cressida,” please check out the other free story available through this site, “Car Chasers,” which is like a Fast & Furious movie meets a ghost story. And if you like that, maybe you can check out all my other books. There are plenty of great stories available, and I include all the links so you can get them from the retailer of your choice. I’ll include a link below so you can browse and find one that speaks to you.
And if you like what you read, I hope you’ll leave a review online somewhere. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback and it helps me out in the long run. Not to mention other readers find it helpful when deciding to check out a book.
One last thing, my Followers of Fear: this coming Friday, I’ll be at ConFusion in Novi, Michigan at the Sheraton Novi. From Friday, January 19 through Sunday, January 21, I’ll be selling books, doing Tarot readings, sitting on panels, and even doing a reading and book signing (God, I hope those are well attended)! If you would like to join me, check out the convention’s website here. You might still be able to join us.
I did say back in November that I would be publishing free short stories through this website. And after the success “Car Chasers” had, I’m releasing another story in just one week. Which story, you may ask? My mermaid horror story “Cressida.” That’s which one.
I’m really proud of “Cressida.” It follows a young man who gets called to his uncle’s vacation home, the latter saying he and the young man’s cousin are waiting to see him. The problem is, that very same cousin died several years prior at that same vacation house!
And if you’re wondering “Where does the mermaid come in?” Well, you’ll have to wait till “Cressida” releases in exactly one week. That’s right, it’s coming out on January 14, 2024. You’ll be able to read it on this blog or download it to the device of your choice.
In the meantime, you can still read “Car Chasers,” which is like a Fast & Furious movie meets a ghost story. I’ll leave it below if you’d like to read it. And if you like that, you can find my other works on my Book Links and Excerpts page. There will be further links to all my works there. If you end up reading any of those stories, I’ll hope you’ll leave me a review so that I know what you thought.
That’s all for my now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you have a good week, and until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
As my publisher said to me earlier this week, “They grow up so fast.”
It’s been exactly three months since my latest book and latest collection, Hannah and Other Stories, was released (and the anniversary even falls on a Saturday!). If you’re unaware, the collection contains seven tales that feature ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things. It’s the product of a lot of hard work over two years between me and my publisher.
And in the three months since I’ve released it, I’ve been hard at work to ensure it reaches as many readers as possible. Just the other day, I was on a podcast talking about it (should be out next week, I’ll post a link to my social media when it comes out). It hasn’t been easy getting people to read it, partly due to the fact that the book’s still currently available only in ebook, and partly due to the plethora of other writers out there with millions of other books out there. And I’m my own marketing team, so it’s all on me to get people interested.
Still, there have been results. I’ve gotten some reviews and those who’ve read the book have been mostly positive. Just check out this review my friend Allen Huntsman, AKA Death Ground Reviews, left on his YouTube channel about Hannah.
Some things he didn’t care for, but mostly good. And I have to agree: if you want to see if my work is right for you, this book might be a good start. Especially if you enjoy carnivorous horses.
And representation. I try to represent plenty of different kinds of characters and from what I hear, the results have been well received. Then again, when you write about communities you’re familiar with because you’re part of them, it’s probably going to turn out better.
Anyway, it’s been hard work, and I’m hoping that all this work will lead to good things for Hannah. Hopefully a paperback and maybe even an audio book. Maybe someone will figure out whom the character of Hannah is based on. Yes, the character of Hannah is based on a real person. If you guess who it is, I will name a character after you and you will not be dissatisfied with the results.
And if you are at all interested in reading the collection, I’ll leave links below. Like I said, it’s currently only available in ebook, but hopefully a paperback and maybe even an audio book aren’t too far away, so supporting the ebook is a good way to help. And if you decide to read the ebook, I hope you’ll leave a review letting me, and other readers, know what you think.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ve got a big day ahead of me. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and if I don’t catch you before Monday, a Merry Christmas to all who celebrate.
Praise the King in Yellow, because Solar Press Books has released its first anthology of horror, The Solar Press Horror Anthology Volume I. As you are probably aware, this book contains my story “The Dedication of the High Priestess.” I’m so excited, because this is both my first paid reprint and this particular story’s first time in print! (It was previously published on the Tales to Terrify podcast.)
I also consider “Dedication” some of my best work. The story follows a young ballerina who believes she’s getting the opportunity of a lifetime to model for a famous artist, only to find herself on the path to a dark destiny. Kind of a twist on the coming-of-age story if you think about it.
But besides “Dedication,” there are sixteen other scary tales in the anthology worth checking out. One of them is even written by a friend of mine, Ann Heyward. We’re both Ohio horror writers and we’re both thrilled to be part of the same anthology. I’m looking forward to her reading my story and me reading hers.
Anyway, if you want to check it out, or if you want to get a copy as a gift for someone (it is the holiday season, after all), you can order them using the links below. One site is for readers in the UK and Europe, the other is for those of us in the US of A. And if you like what you read, leave a review or spread the word via social media. Not only do we love the feedback, but it lets other readers know that the book is worth checking out.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night, happy reading, and pleasant nightmares.
Many of you know that some of my fellow Ohio horror writers and I published an anthology of Ohio horror stories last year. The book, That Which Cannot Be Undone, was published through Cracked Skull Press, a small press three of my friends and I created specifically for this project. We got the book out last October, and everybody really liked it.
Of course, after you publish your first book, whether you’re an author or a small press, everyone wants to know what you’re going to do next. And after a lot of discussion, my friends and I, not without some reluctance, decided to shutter Cracked Skull Press.
Like I said, we do this somewhat reluctantly, and it wasn’t an easy decision to make. But running a press is a lot of work. It’s basically a full-time job in and of itself, and we all already have full-time jobs in addition to writing on the side. You have to deal with distribution and quality control, taxes, responding to customers, etc. And the amount of work needed to do a second project, even if we really wanted to do one, was just too much for us to try again.
So, we’re shutting down Cracked Skull Press, with our final day being December 15th. Just one month from now. And on that day, That Which Cannot Be Undone will go out of print. Perhaps forever.
Honestly, I’m a little bummed about this. I would have liked to see this company continue onward. But I couldn’t run it alone, and we all have other stuff in our lives that require our attention. Hell, look at how many stories I’m working on as well as all the other stuff in my life, and you’ll see what I mean.
Still, I’m not coming away from this with just extra copies of TWCBU. My friends and I learned a lot from this experience of running a press and creating an anthology, and we had some fun times along the way. And hopefully we’ll be able to collaborate on other projects in the future, or at least meet up every now and again as writers and as friends.
Anyway, I wanted to get this out before too much time passed. The news is already out on Cracked Skull Press’s social media, so I’m putting it out on mine. If any of you would like to get a copy of TWCBU, I’ll post a link below. It’ll only be available till December 15th, so grab your copy now while you still have a chance. It’s a great anthology, filled with stories by Ohio horror authors (including myself), all set in Ohio and revolving around the theme that which cannot be undone. You’ll love it, and it might make a great gift for the holidays as well.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll probably have more to say this weekend. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
Good morning, my Followers of Fear. As promised, I’m making one of my short stories available for free. And the first story I publish is “Car Chasers,” which came out in 2019 in The Binge-Watching Cure II from Claren Books.
If you’re unfamiliar with this story, it focuses on street races that take place in the woods around a small town. During these races, ghosts chase the cars around. And you do not want to be around if these spooks manage to get close to your car. Think of it like the Fast and Furious movies deciding to go in the direction of a ghost story.*
Anyway, now it’s available for you to read, and with a kickass cover to boot. Later on, I’ll make it available on my Book Links and Excerpts page, in case anyone wants to read it there. And if you do end up reading it, I hope you’ll let me know what you think. I had a fun time writing this story and I still think of it very fondly (to the point that I direct movie adaptations in my head).
And if you like what you read, consider checking out my other stories. I have plenty available, from ones about plant/human hybrids, to mobster-hunting serial killers, to ancient gods, and more. Just click on the button below the story to head to my Book Links and Excerpts Page, and see if anything strikes your fancy.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and watch out for ghosts that will chase after your vehicle.
Oh, and be sure to keep an eye on this website for the announcement of when “Cressida” comes out. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.
*Fun fact, I first started watching those films as research for this story. And let’s face it, those films couldn’t get any more ridiculous if they went the route of horror or the supernatural, could they? I mean, that just seems like a natural direction to go at some point. I know the next one’s supposed to be the last, but you’ll forgive me if I have my suspicions.
