Archive for the ‘Writing’ Category

25 Facts About Me (HTSI Questionnaire)

Posted: March 27, 2024 in Living and Life, Reflections, Writing
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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Recently, on the blog Broadside run by journalist Caitlin Kelly (check her out, she’s a great journalist who has interviewed Queen Elizabeth II, done pieces for the New York Times and other publishers, has two books out, and does writing/journalism coaching), she did a post where she answered 25 questions about herself.

I enjoyed the post, asked if I could do it myself while changing some questions (I don’t wear scents, for one thing), and where she got it. Caitlin told me it came from the Financial Times’ HTSI (apparently it’s a weekend supplement standing for “How to _______ It,” with “S” standing for a variety of things) and she gave me permission. And, with apparently a lot of new followers on this blog (or so WordPress tells me), I decided to try this and let you get to know me better.

So, thanks to Caitlin for giving me the inspiration for this post, and thank you for reading it. Without further ado, 25 Facts About Me, inspired by the Financial Times’ HTSI Questionnaire.

Something you never find me without.

My glasses. Unless I’m sleeping or in the shower/bath, they’re on my face and helping me see. I also have prescription sunglasses for those days where that nasty sun is making its presence known. I also wear some rings and a necklace with personal meaning to me, and I often wear a watch (though typing with it hurts my wrist, so I take it off when I’m using a keyboard).

The last thing I bought and loved.

This is the poster I bought of the King in Yellow. It’s by Abbie Norton and available from the YouTube channel Tale Foundry. Isn’t it awesome?

A poster from one of my favorite YouTube channels depicting the King in Yellow. I got it specially framed and the poster now hangs over my bed. It’s such a cool piece of art, and I hope it gives me great ideas while I sleep.

Places that mean a lot to me.

Marietta, Ohio is lovely. I love going down there to explore the paranormal hot spots or enjoy the beautiful scenery. Just going down this past November helped me de-stress significantly. I also love New Orleans. It’s such a beautiful city and I want to go back again someday.

The best book I’ve read this year.

God, hard to choose. I go through so many. I really enjoyed Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix, and The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle was amazing. There was also The Store by Bentley Little, All Hallows by Christopher Golden, and Sister Maiden Monster by Lucy Snyder. All were excellent books.

The podcast or audio book I’m listening to.

I’ve about 19 hours left of IT, which I haven’t read since college. Afterwards, I plan to listen to The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.

What I need to write.

I sit in front of my computer in my office with something to drink (tea or non-caffeinated diet soda, though I’ll have alcohol on the weekends or water if it’s super hot). I often have some sort of music playing, with what depending on the story. And I like burning incense in the background, as it fills the air with a sweet scent.

The item of clothing I’d save from a fire.

Probably my Jason Voorhees hockey jersey. I love wearing that thing on Fridays, whether it’s a Friday the 13th or not. Though if it’s too warm, I’ll wear something else on a Friday.

I’ve wanted to be a writer since…

Since I was ten or so. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I never thought of it as a career until that point. After all, kids want to be everything: scientists, rock stars, police officers, superheroes, etc. But I’d always go back to writing, and eventually I was like, “I think I’ll do this as a career.” Two years later, I discovered Stephen King, and that showed me what stories I was going to write for the rest of my life.

The writing moment that changed everything for me.

I think it was when a friend introduced me to my first publisher, Castrum Press. That would eventually lead to Rose being published, and has changed lots of things for me since then.

Talents I don’t normally talk about.

Well, I can cook decently. Not many things, but enough that I eat well and on the rare occasion I have guests, I can whip up something awesome. I’m also good at making people feel old. I’ve made my coworkers cringe in horror by reminding them how much younger I am than them. This will probably come back to haunt me someday, but for now, I wield it with sadism pride.

The best gift I’ve given recently.

Impossible to say without getting too personal. Though I did give my dad and stepmom some delicious banana bread when I stayed with them recently, so can I say that?

And the best gift I’ve received recently?

I love this Cthulhu onesie. It’s awesome!

I’ve gotten wonderful gifts from lots of people, both material and immaterial. But for the purpose of this post, I’ll say it’s my Cthulhu onesie. It’s awesome!

The last music I downloaded.

Some of the greatest hits from the Backstreet Boys. Don’t judge me, sometimes I’m just in the mood for them while at work!

In my fridge you’ll always find…

Yogurt, bread, soda, and maybe something of an alcoholic nature.

Something I want to do the next time I have a few days off.

I think I’d like to binge-watch some of my anime. I’ve a few seasons of different shows on DVD and Blu-Ray I haven’t watched in a while, so I’d like to take the time to just chillax and watch those shows. Maybe this summer? It would certainly be fun.

Some goals I’m working towards.

Obviously, I want to be able to write full-time someday, and I’m working on making that happen, slowly but surely. But there are other goals. I’m hopefully going to start doing some renovations to my condo that I’ve wanted to do since I moved in. And this may scare some of my readers, but I would like to get more tattoos someday.

Yes, I have tattoos. They’re normally covered by clothes.

Animals I feel a special kinship with.

Tigers are my spirit animal. I love their fierce beauty and power. I even have one tattooed on my chest.

I also love owls, ocelots, snakes, foxes, wolves, and regular cats and dogs. Honestly, I would love to be able to interact with any of these in a safe manner. The cats and dogs are easy enough, but the rest would probably be a challenge. Still, a guy can dream, can’t he?

A skill I wish I had and a skill I would like to learn.

I would love it if languages came easily to me. Unfortunately, perhaps because I just haven’t found the right teacher, I’m terrible with anything other than English (though I still remember plenty of Hebrew and some French and German). Maybe there’s a skill or technique that’s not a total scam to teach me other languages? If so, sound off in the comments!

If I could hang out with any of my characters, who would I hang out with?

Kat from my Backrooms story (still looking for a publisher for that one). She and I are both aromantic, and we have similar nerdy interests, so we would get along fine. We’d probably make some snacks, sit on the couch, and binge whatever we’re in the mood for.

Things I like to collect?

Books, obviously. I have over 600 or 700 books across various media, including ebooks and audio books. I also collect dolls and figurines, which I keep in my room. I think some of them are haunted and watch me in my sleep. And I have plenty of wall art, too, so I guess that counts.

What am I reading now?

Currently, I’m in the middle of Spectrum, which is an upcoming anthology of horror stories written by neurodivergent writers. Many of the stories are about the authors’ own neurological states, so it’s really personal. As someone who’s also neurodivergent (or “neuro-spicy,” according to some definitions), I’m finding it all very fascinating. Thanks to the publisher for furnishing me with an advanced copy (it comes out on April 2nd if you’re interested).

I’m also listening to IT on audio book. Though I already mentioned that, didn’t I?

What am I writing now?

A novella about a 3D printer from Hell. Well, hopefully it stays a novella. There’s a chance it could bloat into a novel. Though one way or another, I have a feeling it’ll be a fun story. Very in line with the mass market horror stories of the 1970s and 1980s.

In another life I would have been…

When I went to Israel, my friends on the trip told me I’d make a great late-night show host, so maybe that. Or a radio or podcast host.

I’d also enjoy being a massage therapist, or even a professional dancer. Those are great jobs that bring people happiness and are fulfilling to the people doing them.

Though if I’m being honest, a sorcerer of dark magic is also quite appealing…

Something I try to do once a day.

I do one Tarot reading every day. I find Tarot helpful as a way to receive advice from the universe and get previews of the events in my life. And it can be scarily accurate sometimes.

Also, I’ve gotten skilled enough to do it at events where I sell books. People go crazy for it and it’s wonderful as an extra source of income. Though I can’t see me doing it everyday or as a career for a variety of reasons.

The best writing advice I can give.

You need to carve out the time to write. I give this to every writer, no matter their background or experience. A writing fairy will never appear before you and grant you certain hours in the day to write. You have to make that time. Sure, you might have to give some things up. But hey, look at this way: before becoming famous, Stephen King would find time every day to write in the laundry room of the trailer he, his wife and his three children lived in at the time.

If he can do that while also working as a teacher and an occasional gas station attendant, imagine what you can do if you cut a few non-essential things out here and there.

I hope you enjoyed that, my Followers of Fear. If any of the questions and answers really spoke to you, let’s discuss in the comments below. Be sure to also read Caitlin’s post, to see how I got inspired to write this one.

And if you are interested, do your own post like this! You can change the questions as you like, or come up with an entirely new list of questions. Just be sure to tag or link back to me so I can see your post.

That’s all for now. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!

“Hannah and Other Stories:” Six Months Since Publication!!!

Posted: March 23, 2024 in Progress Report, Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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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.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
Goodreads
Kobo
Wook

No Luck But What We Make

Posted: March 13, 2024 in Reflections, Writing
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Many writers dream of getting lucky. Of just one reader discovering their book or short story or whatever. Of that reader enthusiastically bragging about it and telling all their friends. Those friends then read the book, and like that, a snowball gets rolling, eventually leading to the writer’s big discovery and hopeful ever after.

It’s sad to say, but that sort of lucky break doesn’t happen that often, if it happens at all. In this industry, or any other industry (like being a professional YouTuber), becoming successful (which here we will define as being able to do what you’re doing full-time and make a decent living out of it) is often the result of a confluence of multiple factors. It could be that trends favor what you’re producing, or that enough people talk about your book on a particular social media platform, or your publisher orders enough copies printed that people pay attention, because nobody prints that many copies without expecting decent sales and reviews.

Hell, the one incident I can think of where someone did receive that sort of luck, fantasy author Chelsea Banning (read my interview with her here), was like winning the lottery. And last I checked, she still works part-time because, while her writing career has had a huge boost, it still doesn’t pay all the bills. Or at least not enough that she feels she doesn’t need another income source.

Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim to be a full-time writer. I’m aiming for that 24/7. But don’t expect that it’ll happen on pure talent and a smattering of luck. You need to work for it. You need to make your own luck.

I was reminded of this at a convention I attended not too long ago. I was in the author’s room, and let me tell you, things were dead. Not fun dead, but dead. There were a number of reasons for that, including a low attendance rate, but it certainly wasn’t helped by the fact that other rooms had big signs advertising what was happening in them, and we…had a single piece of paper next to the door that was covered half the time by people whose booths were on either side of the room. It was like nobody knew we were there.

At one point, I was so frustrated by this, I went into the hallways of the convention, dressed in full author gear, shouting “Come stop by Author’s Alley! You may find your next great read there!” Was it kind of embarrassing? Yes. But it did remind people that we were there. And a few said they were going to stop by, which probably increased some authors’ profits a bit. Maybe even mine.

And now, some of those readers who were alerted to our presence have our books. Maybe they’ll read them, enjoy them, leave us reviews, and lead others to read our works. Like I said at the top of the post, no luck but what we make.

(Yes, I know that’s mangling a famous Terminator quote, but can you blame me?)

So, how do we make luck? Well, we don’t wait for readers to come to us. That’s a mistake. We have to draw them to us. Not just through social media and blog posts, though that does help. We have to make ourselves seen at events, both to sell and to network. We have to talk to people, both readers and fellow writers, because if they like us, then they’re more likely to read our work or continue a relationship with us. And occasionally, we have to take a risk like going out into a hallway and shouting, “Hey, come visit Author’s Alley!”

These and other tactics can get readers interested and lead to your work being read and reviewed and discovered by other readers. And, perhaps, with lots of hard work and the right confluence of events…who knows? You could end up writing full-time. That’s my goal. And as long as it’s legal, ethical, and doesn’t have too much risk, I’ll do whatever I can to make that happen.

Just a reminder before the weekend, my Followers of Fear: I’ll be attempting to make my own luck happen by being at ShamROCK this Saturday, March 16, 2024. This pagan spring festival will be at the Courtyard by Marriott – West Side Columbus. I’ll be selling books, reading Tarot cards, and probably dancing my butt off to celebrate the end of winter (hopefully I don’t drink myself crazy and take off my clothes, lol). If you would like to stop by, check out the website here.

And, if you’re not able to come, consider supporting me by reading one of my books (see how I’m making more of my own luck?). From carnivorous horses and Mafia-hunting serial killers to plant/human hybrids and strange gods, I’ve got something for every horror fan, so why not give them a read? And if you do, please leave a review, so I and other readers know what you think.

Just click on the link below to my Book Links and Excerpts page. You’ll find all my work there, including some free stories. I look forward to hearing what you think.

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

Book Links & Excerpts

When the Story Won’t Click for You

Posted: March 8, 2024 in Reflections, Writing
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Earlier this week, I tried to write a story about a cursed anime. And I thought I would have a blast writing it. I mean, horror and anime, two of my great loves! And for a bit of added fun, maybe some ballet, because God knows I like putting that into my stories like King enjoys throwing in psychics and other writers.

But for some reason, while working on the outline, I just couldn’t make it work. Every time I tried to add to the outline, I just felt blocked and frustrated. After a while, I just figured that I would need to find a different way to tell this story, so I put it back in the proverbial idea bin.

And you know what? That’s okay. This sort of thing happens to writers of all stripes, not just me. Sometimes, you just need to put the story away and hope a way to tell it eventually comes to you.

That’s what Stephen King did for Under the Dome. He tried numerous times to write that novel, but it just didn’t click for him. Not for around thirty years. But eventually he was able to find some way to get unstuck and knock out one hell of a doorstopper novel.

Who’s to say that couldn’t happen with this anime story? Either that, or I could make a graphic novel out of it, provided I could find a good artist to work with.

For now, though, while I wait for that story to click or an artist to collaborate with, I have something new to work on. A story about a 3D printer from Hell. And judging by the progress I’m making in the outline, I won’t have the same issue. Yeah, I’m still figuring out where it’s going, but I’m figuring it out by leaps and bounds.

Makes me think it could be one hell of a read when I’m done. And I’ll have one fun ride while writing it.

“Natural Predators” is Now Available for Free!!!

Posted: March 3, 2024 in Novelette, Scary Stuff, Writing
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Surprise! I meant to let you all know this was coming, but time got away from me, and the next thing I knew, it was time to release this story!

So, if you’re unaware, I’ve been releasing stories for free every couple of months for free on this blog. I first released “Car Chasers” in November, followed by “Cressida” in January. The former is like a Fast & Furious story mixed with a ghost story, while the latter is a mermaid horror story. Now, I’m releasing “Natural Predators,” an apocalyptic pandemic story set at a summer camp.

Honestly, this story surprised me when it was first published in an anthology about two years ago. As you are no doubt aware, we were still smack-dab in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, so I wasn’t sure anyone would want to print a pandemic story, let alone one taking place just a few years after and referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. But to my surprise, it found a home almost immediately, which showed me that there’s still an appetite for those sorts of stories.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story. It’s available to download below. And if you like what you read, please check out the other free stories, as well as my other published works. And if you do read those books, I hope you’ll leave me a review so I know what you thought. I’ll leave a link to my Books page below the story.

Happy reading, my Followers of Fear, and pleasant nightmares!

natural-predatorsDownload
Book Links and Excerpts

One more thing, Followers of Fear: this coming weekend, I’ll be selling and signing books and maybe even sitting on panels at Cleveland Concoction in Cleveland, Ohio. If you can stop by, please do! I would love to see you, sign your books, and even give you a Tarot reading. Details can be found on the convention’s website.

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

Making Your Monsters Different Every Time

Posted: February 25, 2024 in Reflections, Scary Stuff, Writing
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In horror, it’s often about the monsters.

Obviously, horror often centers around the monsters. Saying that is like saying in economics, it’s often about the supply and demand. But still, it needs to be stated. Whether they be demons from Hell, ghosts haunting an old house, a serial killer stalking a young woman during a holiday, a collection of corpse parts stitched together and brought to life through high levels of electricity, or ancient entities from the stars whose forms are difficult to describe, horror is often about the monsters.

And as horror creators, it’s up to us to make each monster we create different from all who came before.

Let’s face it, the people who consume our work expect a little variety (unless you’re working on a series like Supernatural or the Sookie Stackhouse books, in which case your readers would hope there would be some internal consistency in the monster design from episode to episode and season to season). They don’t want the same story every time, and neither do we. So, we write new stories and try to make them distinct from previous works.

Same goes with the monsters we design. Unless we have a special reason for doing so, like a series, it’s important to make our monsters different from story to story. Sure, there may be common characteristics. HP Lovecraft’s monsters were always covered in tentacles and eyes and gloopy fluids (when he could describe them), but you could tell Cthulhu from Yog-Sothoth from Azathoth. And in James Wan’s more supernatural horror movies, the ghosts and demons do share some characteristics, but how they work in the Conjuring franchise is different from how they work in the Insidious franchise.

But the point is, you do have to try to ensure the monsters don’t closely resemble one another too much from story to story. Otherwise, you have people confusing what happened in one story with what happened in another story and being like, “Can you blame me? They’re so similar, they just kind of blend in after a while!”

I was reminded of that this weekend while working on the climax of a killer fairy story (yes, that’s what I’m writing, and it’s probably going to be a novella when it’s done). I was making great progress yesterday, heading towards the climax, and then I realized that the monster the protagonist encounters during this scene resembles one appearing in a different novella. Thus, I had to redesign the monster for the killer fairy story, which I only finalized today.

So, how do you ensure that your monsters are different every time? For the first time in forever on this blog, here are some tips:

  • Look to mythology for inspiration. Mythologies from around the world are rife with monsters. You have the Hekatonkeries and Typhon from Greek mythology; the Jorogumo and the Onryo from Japan; the Chupacabra from Latin America; and more (did you know some Amazon tribes believe in furry cyclops creatures that protect the forest?). If you look deeply enough, and keep it varied, you’ll find all sorts of interesting monsters you can use in your stories.
    Just be careful that you don’t do anything that might be considered exploitative or offensive by certain cultures. Nobody needs that kind of bad karma.
  • Draw from the works of your favorite authors. I’m not saying copy your favorite authors, because that’s plagiarism and is generally frowned upon. But look at the monsters in your favorite novels. What about that monster scared for you? Draw on that and see if you can create something terrifying.
  • Take something ordinary and make it scary. This is something I see a lot more in horror fiction these days, where writers find a way to make something ordinary and make it terrifying. If you are familiar with the works of Junji Ito and Bentley Little, you know what I’m talking about. Uzumaki by Junji Ito makes spiral shapes terrifying, and I never thought a resort could be scary until I read Little’s Resort. And what about Siren Head, a giant humanoid with two giant megaphones full of teeth for a head? I wonder where that came from?
  • Look to your own fears and anxieties. Plenty of times, it’s easy to draw on those to create a monster. Have a phobia around rats, snakes, spiders, lightning, death, or your grandfather? Maybe something you remember from childhood struck you as creepy but no one else seemed to think so, like a character in a children’s movie or a toy you were given at Christmas? Use that to form something new and horrifying. You’d be surprised how often that works.
  • Keep track of your monsters. Nobody knows your stories better than you do, and that includes the monsters. If you’re having trouble coming up with a good monster, look what you’ve come up with before. Go through them like a catalog. Perhaps seeing what came before will help you come up with something new that you’ll enjoy writing.
Siren Head is a great example of taking something ordinary and turning it horrifying.

Coming up with new monsters each and every time isn’t easy, even if you work in multiple genres and subgenres. Still, as creators, it’s our job, and it can be a lot of fun. And when you hear people praising your monsters for how clever the idea is or how terrifying they are to think about, it makes the work worth it.

And hey, don’t get bummed if one monster is too similar to another and you only realize after the fact. The antagonist in The Library Policeman by Stephen King bears some similarities to It, but they’re both still great stories. So, it happens. Nothing to get worked up over.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Good night, pleasant nightmares, and RUN! THERE’S SOMETHING RESEMBLING A MURDER HORNET AND THE SIZE OF A SMALL DOG BEHIND YOU!!!

What are your tips for coming up with monsters for your stories? Let’s discuss in the comments below.

Events in 2024

Posted: February 15, 2024 in Living and Life, Writing
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Well, we have another announcement post. I got plenty of upcoming events and I want to see if I can get as many people as possible to go to those events. So, as I typically do, I’m making an announcement post. Let’s get into it, shall we?

So, next month, I have two conventions during back-to-back weekends. The first will be Cleveland Concoction in Cleveland, OH. It’ll be at the Bertram Inn Hotel and Conference Center from Friday, March 8 through March 10. I will be hanging out in the Authors Alley, selling books, doing Tarot readings, and possibly speaking on panels (to be confirmed at a later date). If you can stop by, please do, I would love to see you. More information on the event website.

The following weekend, on March 16, I’ll be at ShamROCK, a Pagan Celtic Celebration hosted by the Magical Druid, one of Columbus’s favorite metaphysical shops. It’s being held at the Courtyard by Marriott West Columbus. I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readings. And then later, I’ll probably take part in pagan rituals, drinking and dancing. I promise I probably won’t do anything I’ll regret in the morning. Anyway, if you’re interested in joining us, please check out the website.

Next, I’ll be at the Wagnalls Local Author Fair at the Wagnalls Memorial Library in Lithopolis, Ohio. It’ll be April 6 from 10 AM – 2 PM, and I’ll be selling more books and doing more Tarot readings (I’m surprised they’re letting me do the latter but I’m not complaining). I have also volunteered my services for a presentation or panel, so more on that in the future.

One month later, I’m returning for my fourth ParaPsyCon on May 17-19 at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. This year, Hearsemania will be joining us, so there will likely be all sorts of wild and wonderful altered hearses to check out. You already know what I’m going to be doing there, so if you’re interested in joining us, please check out the website.

During the summer, it looks like I’ll be taking a break till August 10, when I’ll be joining the Indie Author Book Expo in Terre Haute, Indiana at the Terre Haute Convention Center. This is the same group I did an event with in Iowa back in 2020 (and then afterwards I went to the Villisca Axe Murder House). Hopefully out of the pandemic, we have an even better time than we did in Iowa. If you want to learn more, or about the other events they’re doing in 2024, you can check out their website.

And there will probably be more events in the future. I’ll be sure to let you know. I’ll also be sure to give you a reminder right before the event, in case you forgot.

And if you can’t stop by the events but still want to support me, you can always check out one of my books. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, my work has something for every horror fan. And judging from the reviews, they seem to like it. I’ll leave a link below to my Book Links page. And if you end up reading something of mine and like it, please leave me a review so I know what you thought.

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

Book Links and Excerpts

Novelettes and Novellas Deserve More Love

Posted: February 10, 2024 in Novelette, Novella, Reflections, Writing
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I try to write short stories, but they rarely end up that short. They end up being novelettes and novellas.

Now, I know a lot of you are writers and are familiar with the terms. But for those of you who are not, novelettes and novellas are stories that are longer than short stories but shorter than novels. Depending on who you ask, the length can vary, but the HWA defines novelettes as 7,500 words to 17,499 words and novellas to 17,500 words to 40,000 words. Obviously, shorter than 7,500 is a short story and over 40,000 is a novel.

And like I say, I try to write short stories. I do. Most publishing magazines and anthologies prefer short stories, and many like them under five-thousand words. Can’t really blame them. Not only do short stories that short have a special punch, but it’s just more cost effective. If you’re paying by the word, then the cost per story goes up with the word count. And if you’re paying a flat rate per story, then the higher the word count, the more the author might expect to be paid. Hence why they tend to publish short stories.

However, I have trouble keeping my word count under seven-thousand. I’m an expansive writer, as one of my college writing professors once told me. Hell, even most of the stories in Hannah and Other Stories is more novelette-length than short story, and that’s marketed as a short story collection. I just like having those longer stories that still have that punch of a short story but don’t require the same commitment as a novel does.

And I wish there were more publishers that were willing to pay for novelettes and novellas. Especially novelettes, because a lot of the presses and magazines and anthologies that accept those don’t tend to go above ten thousand words.

Thankfully, my wish appears to be coming true. Perhaps in part due to popular collections of novellas by popular authors like Stephen King and Josh Malerman, and perhaps in part due to readers hungry for them, more publishers are buying and releasing novellas, both as standalone releases and as collections. And it’s a slow trickle, but we’re seeing a rise in publications accepting novelettes, including ones above ten-thousand.

Who knows? Maybe there are even publishers who would willingly put out a collection consisting entirely of novelettes. If the response to some of my social media posts are anything to go by, there’s an audience who would read that.

And I have been considering putting together a collection just like that, as well as a collection of novellas. After all, a lot of what I’m writing these days ends up either a novelette or a novella. Who knows? Maybe if I can put together enough stories of the right length and that gel together and if the stars are right…

Well, we’ll see what happens. In the meantime, if you have social media, make sure to post how you would love to see more publishers and magazines releasing novelettes and novellas. Trust me, if they see the demand, they will respond. The responses to my own social media posts have me convinced of that.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. This post wasn’t the most important thing I could write about, but I wanted to write about it. Besides, who knows? I could find a few more people who wish for more venues for novelettes and novellas. We could start a trend.

Anyway, until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and aren’t you glad this post didn’t become a full-length novelette? Or even a novella?

Someone Won the Hannah Challenge!!!

Posted: February 1, 2024 in Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
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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.

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The Hannah Challenge!!!

Posted: January 30, 2024 in Scary Stuff, short story, Writing
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
27

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 Hannah and 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.

Amazon
Apple Books
Barnes & Noble
Bertrand
Booktopia
Kobo
Wook
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