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.
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.
I am not a woman. I have never been a woman. And, unless reincarnation is a thing, I probably never will be one.
However, I do write from the point of view of or stories centering around women and girls quite a bit. And while I’ve been told a few times I do the female point of view well, I would never call myself an expert. No matter how often I spend time around the many women in my family (it’s a lot), or how many times I read or watch stories about women (even if they’re by women creators), that’s never going to change.
So, when I’m writing or editing a story, occasionally I’ll think to myself, “Hold up. Could this be problematic or offensive?” This actually happened the other night, with a story focusing on an actress, and I found myself wondering if some of what I was working on might be upsetting to some readers.
In that moment, I’m glad for the existence of sensitivity readers.
If you’re unaware, sensitivity readers are readers who review a work of literature for offensive content, like stereotypes or bias. They’ve been controversial, as some feel that sensitivity readers stifle artistic license or are trying to be moral gatekeepers, and a few have been employed to go over books by Ian Fleming and Roald Dahl, thus changing the books from their original contexts. But in situations like this, where I want to tell a specific kind of story but I don’t want to accidentally offend someone by including something that I may not even realize it’s offensive, sensitivity readers are a godsend.
(I also work in a job where the goal is to foster diversity and inclusion and to combat prejudice, so maybe my views on sensitivity readers, as well as my goals in using their services, are a bit different from other writers.)
So, that story I mentioned earlier? It’s with sensitivity readers now. Two women, both of whom are writers and one of whom is already familiar with my work, agreed to help me make sure this story is as good as it can be. And I’m sure they’re going to give me some excellent feedback once they’re done with it. Feedback which will ensure this story makes it out into the world someday.
And when I finish the second draft of The Shape of Evil, AKA the story about the 3D printer from Hell, I’ll employ the services of a sensitivity reader and use their feedback to improve the story before I pitch it to agents and publishers. After all, the main character is non-binary, and while I am in the LGBT community, I am not trans. So, I will need someone from that community, preferably someone who is non-binary, who can look at the story, tell me what I did right, what I got wrong, and what I can do to improve.
After all, I want to deliver the best stories possible, and I’m aware that I have my blind spots. What better way to make sure I do the first part than by having someone who can help me with the second part?
Do you use sensitivity readers? What has your experience been like?
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to bed and to get some rest before the weekend. And until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
In recent days and across my social media, as well as on my blog, the number of people following me has grown by leaps and bounds. Why is that? I have my theories, but this post isn’t about theories. Instead, it’s to better introduce myself to my new Followers of Fear, as I like to call the people following me and supporting my writing career.
And since I’m a horror writer, obviously I’m doing thirteen items to get to know me better.
So, without further ado, here’s what will hopefully be a fun introduction to yours truly. And who knows? Perhaps some of my long-time Followers of Fear might learn something that’ll surprise them. It’s happened before!
I’m a writer of horror and dark fantasy with five books under my belt. I’ve been writing since I was a kid, and in college, I started self-publishing books. My first book was a collection called The Quiet Game: Five Tales to Chill Your Bones, which came out in 2013. The next year, I published a slasher novel called Snake about a serial killer hunting mobsters in New York City (think John Wick, Taken and Friday the 13th got smashed into a novel). Both did okay, and continue to get readers today.
Five years later, I published my first novel with a publisher. Rose was released by Castrum Press in summer 2019, and followed a young woman turned into a plant/human hybrid (and that’s just the start of her problems). I followed Rose in 2021 with The Pure World Comes, a Victorian Gothic horror novel about a maid who goes to work for a mad scientist. And last year, in 2023, I published my second collection, Hannah and Other Stories, which was released by BSC Publishing Group.
That’s all five of my books out now. I’m proud of all of them and all I’ve managed to do with them over the years. And I plan to put out more in the years to come.
All five of my currently available books. I love them and am so proud of them (and their awesome covers).
I’m Jewish, queer, and have disabilities. Growing up, my life has been an interesting ride, to say the least. Not only did I grow up in a fairly religious Jewish household, but both my father and mother are rabbis. I went to a Jewish day school for most of my youth, learning Hebrew and Judaic subjects for half the day and then learning normal stuff the rest of the day. I also went to synagogue nearly every week, and attended Jewish teen and college groups until I graduated.
To this day, I still practice a lot of the religious practices I grew up with and feel a strong connection with my faith and heritage.
I’m also bisexual. I figured that out in college, and came out about half a year after I came to that realization. Probably took me that long to get comfortable with it because, even surrounded by accepting people and LGBT family members, I still worried about being persecuted. However, I did come out and it was all good, which was reassuring. And then some years later, I realized I was also aromantic (if you’re unfamiliar, it means I can’t feel romantic desire or attraction). Which, looking back, felt pretty obvious, considering I didn’t care about having a relationship all my life. But when I realized it, it was still a bit of a revelation.
And finally, I’m on the spectrum. Have been my whole life. I also have ADHD, a form of albinism, an anxiety disorder, and most recently, diabetes. Yeah, that last one was only diagnosed a couple of months ago, and it sucks! To say the least, it was a shock for me and I miss not being able to eat sweets or have a drink as much as I used to. But, on the bright side, I’ve improved my health by leaps and bounds since finding out, and I plan to keep it that way. Too much to do in my life, after all.
And as I’ve gotten older, I’ve made it a goal to increase representation of these three groups, as well as their intersections, in my fiction. So far, I’m meeting that goal, and hope to release some of those stories soon.
My writing influences. My major influence is, without a doubt, Stephen King. I read IT as a preteen and it was a formative moment in my life! That whole summer, I was transported to Derry, Maine and, when I finished that book at summer camp, I knew what kind of books I would write for the rest of my life.
I’m also majorly influenced by the ideas of HP Lovecraft and the subgenre of cosmic horror, as well as Anne Rice and a ton of anime and manga. All those creators and stories have led me to writing some really insane stories, such as Rose, which I mentioned above, or “Fuseli’s Horses,” one of the stories in Hannah, which is about carnivorous horses.
But I’m not complaining. People seem to like my work, after all.
I love going to the movies and to the theater. It’s rare that a month goes by without me going to see a movie. Usually it’s a horror film or a new superhero film, but I sometimes go see comedies, fantasy and sci-fi films, and anime films getting theatrical releases. I just love going to the movies! I didn’t get to go as much as I wanted when I was growing up, so starting in college, I went as often as possible. And I still do.
Most people are surprised to learn I like ballet. Then they see how much it appears in my stories.
And now that I have a decent day job, I also go to the ballet and to touring Broadway shows. My interest in ballet started probably in college, and as a working adult, I got really into it. It’s gotten to the point where I’m kind of obsessed and look for ways to insert ballet and dancers into the stories I write! And as for Broadway shows, I think Disney movies as a kid primed me to be a fan of those, though the breadth and depth of musicals out there is far wider than Disney can think up, as it turns out.
Now, I have subscriptions to both the local ballet company and to touring Broadway shows that stop in Columbus. And I have to say, I think I would be just as psyched for one of my stories to be adapted into a ballet or Broadway show as I would be for a movie. Maybe even more.
I have several tattoos. To be precise, I have a chest tattoo of a tiger with a blue Star of David, a full back tattoo of one of my favorite ideas from the horror genre, a wrist tattoo referencing some of my favorite anime, and a Tarot card on my right leg that’s about halfway done. However, while I have my tattoos, I don’t normally share photos of them. That’s partially because I just don’t feel the need to. My tattoos are for me to express myself and to have my body reflect who I am. So, their existence on my body is enough for me.
Still, they’re awesome. And I plan to get more as time and money allows.
My most popular work is Rose. I’ve been publishing for over a decade now, but none of my work has done as well critically or commercially as Rose. And I think I know why: it’s the unusual story of a woman turned into a plant/human hybrid. Very weird, very Kafkaesque, and very fantasy horror. Add in that it’s a short but twisty read with Japanese folklore and mythology mixed in, and it’s not surprising that that book does so well.
Plus, you gotta love that cover.
Anyway, if you would like to check out Rose, you can check out its page HERE. I hope you like it if you read it.
I go ghost hunting at least once a year. I’ve been lucky to go to several different locations to ghost hunt. From famous places like the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH and the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast in Fall River, MA, to lesser known locations such as the Anchorage Mansion in Marietta, OH and the Bellaire House in Bellaire, OH, with the hope to visit and revisit many, many more.
Also, I try my best to get my investigations on YouTube and upload them to YouTube. So, if you would like to check out my ghost hunting videos, you can check out my channel HERE. They’re spooky good!
I make my own wine. Most people don’t realize that you can brew your own alcohol at home, but it is, and there are plenty of people of doing it, including me. I’ve made a batch of plum wine, and I just finished and bottled a batch of pumpkin wine (yes, pumpkin wine). And I’ve been making my wines based on colors of the rainbow: plum wine is red, and pumpkin is obviously orange. Yellow will be dandelion wine, green will be mint, blue will obviously blueberries, and indigo/violet will be elderberries. And I can’t wait to try them all!
The pumpkin wine I made, all bottled up. Looks good, doesn’t it?
I bought my first home two years ago. For millennials like me, it’s hard to find an affordable home, let alone a non-fixer upper that you don’t have to share with a bunch of other millennials. However, I was lucky enough to find and buy a small condo for myself two years ago, and I’ve been living in the Haunted Condo, as I call it, ever since.
Sadly, it’s not very haunted by anything except me. I don’t know why, I’ve done voodoo rituals and everything else to make the place haunted, but so far, no otherworldly dice. At least I can make one hell of a Halloween display every October and decorate the inside as I like!
My yard is the spookiest in the neighborhood every October.
I’m the chapter coordinator for HWA Ohio. The Horror Writers Association is an international organization that supports horror writers and helps them network and grow. Ohio’s chapter is about six or seven years old, and I’m the guy who runs it! Which was never my intention: some other members organized the chapter, and I volunteered to find a venue. Somehow, I kept arranging locations for us to meet, and that morphed into becoming the chapter coordinator. And after the parent organization set a formal election process for chapter coordinators for all chapters…well, I ran without competition. I guess people think I’m doing a good job or something?
Anyway, HWA Ohio has its own website, which lists our members and puts out news about us. If you would like to check the website out and support us, click HERE.
So proud to have a story from this collection adapted into a radio play.
I recently had my very first story adaptation. Remember my collection Hannah and Other Stories, which I mentioned above? Earlier this year, I became acquainted with a producer for WCBE 90.5, a local NPR station who interviews local creative types. He also runs a yearly Halloween show, where a short story is adapted into a radio play, with the roles played by local high schoolers.
“Hannah,” the lead story in Hannah and Other Stories, was this year’s story. It was my first time having a story adapted, and it was so, so good! The kids did really well in their roles, and it was amazing hearing my story brought to life on the radio.
And if you would like to listen to it, you can! It’s available to stream online, and you can listen to it in full HERE. Let me know what you think if you listen to it. The more people who listen, the better for future shows and future students. Plus, who knows? Maybe another one of my stories will get adapted. It happened once, didn’t it?
I tend to break out in song at any provocation. I kid you not, this is something I did daily in high school, and which I do quite frequently these days. In fact, I’m part of a critique group with some of my fellow Ohio horror writers, and they say it’s not a meeting if I don’t burst out in song at least once!
Too bad I sing badly, but hey, why should I let that stop me?
What I’m working on now. I’m juggling a few projects at the moment. For one, I’m putting together another collection of short stories, and I hope to have more on that in the coming days and weeks. I also recently finished a new novel, The Shape of Evil, which is about a 3D printer from Hell, and I hope to have that ready for pitching to agents and publishers by June next year. Finally, I also have a collection of novellas I plan to work on at some point, and I have a mummy novel I started but put aside for other projects that I plan to get back to.
Plus some short stories to send out to magazines and anthologies here and there. Yeah, I’m a busy guy, aren’t I? But that’s kind of the way I like it.
Anyway, that’s thirteen things you need to know about me. I hope you enjoyed learning about me, because I enjoyed writing it. And if you did, be sure to follow this blog and my other social media to keep up with what I’m doing and when I have new work coming out.
And if you would like to check out any of my other work, I’ll leave a link to my book page down below. You’ll find all my published works and then some there, including free stories. And if you like what you read, I hope you’ll leave a review online so I, as well as other readers, know what you think.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares.
In the wake of many current events, including current events, especially ones that leave us reeling and afraid and horrified by the state of the world, it’s not uncommon for many writers to wonder something: what’s the point? What’s the point in writing a fiction story when there’s so many horrible things happening out in the world today?
I especially hear this regarding horror. Sometimes from horror writers and horror fans, but more often from people who may not be fans. They may ask, “Who needs horror when all this horrible stuff is happening out in the world?”
And I’m sure we’re going to hear plenty of that in the weeks and months and years to come. What is the point of writing fiction when everything seems to be spiraling in the real world? And isn’t there enough real horror out there without fictional horrors making their way in there?
My fellow writers, and even those non-writers who may be asking these questions: this is exactly the time we need new fiction stories. Over the next several years, and far beyond, past every bad thing that will happen in our future, we’ll need fiction to get through it. Stories heal us. They offer us an escape from the bad things happening in our world and allow our minds to heal. That way, we can face the world, and whatever might happen to us in our lives, with new strength and determination.
Just look at the pandemic. For many people, streaming new shows and movies, or reading new books, or rewatching the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe up until that point (like I did), gave us the means to deal with our anxieties and loneliness. Sure, it didn’t help with everything, but God, did it give us a much needed boost.
That’s the power of story. It heals. So don’t put down your pen, asking what good your story does. It’s doing more good than you would think possible.
And to the horror writers: your work also heals. I did a whole talk on this subject at the Scary Saturday event the other day (you can watch that video HERE), but to summarize my points, horror can be therapeutic for many people. There’s even been studies on the subject, and those studies show that fictional horrors help heal fans by reminding them of how good their lives can be, as well as how bad.
It’s also true for the writers, who can find horror helpful in dealing with their own anxieties and traumas.
Not to mention fiction is a great lens to help you study, understand, and recontextualize the events of the world, with speculative fiction like horror and science fiction doing this especially well. Maybe that’s because those genres are such present and forward thinking genres that we can’t help but look at the world and put our thoughts into the stories we create in those genres.
So, to summarize: WRITERS! Your work is needed now more than ever. AND HORROR WRITERS! Don’t let anyone tell you that you shouldn’t be filling the world up with fake horrors when there are enough real ones. Instead, let those people know that now is the best time for fictional horrors. Because your fake ones will give somebody the strength to fight the real ones. Whether that be on the national or international stage, or just getting through a very rough day.
Thank you, happy writing, and pleasant nightmares. I look forward to seeing what new stories you all produce.
This past Thursday was Halloween, and I was lucky to have two stories release in audio. And since I know that not everyone was able to tune in for them (especially the second one), I’m including links in this post so you can check them out whenever you’re able.
First, on the Tales to Terrify podcast, we have my short story “White Leaves,” which follows the events that occur when an apartment complex wakes up to find a sea of white leaves on their front lawns. The story was narrated by an A+ narrator named Andrew Gibson, and can be found about 28 minutes into the podcast (though I highly encourage you to listen to the two stories preceding mine).
Second, we have the radio play based on my short story “Hannah,” which leads Hannah and Other Stories. The play was performed by the students at Christopher Ray’s Whetstone Academy of Performing Arts, which I’m given to understand is part of Whetstone High School here in Columbus, and produced by WCBE 90.5’s program The Craft by Doug Dangler. It was a really good performance, and the kids did an amazing job (special props to Evelyn Boreman, who played angry and entitled Dianne Shawcross. I could believe all the other actors were teens, but I was very surprised that wasn’t really a middle-aged woman!).
I’ve mentioned it before, but this is the first time my work has ever been adapted into another storytelling format, and I’m quite honored. So, if you can, please check this program out and give it a listen. It really was an amazing show and I’m so proud to have had my story be used for this show and for the teens to use as they work hard to make their careers blossom.
And finally, if you’re interested in reading the original tale this radio play is based on, you can check out Hannah and Other Stories using any of the links below. And if you do, and you get a copy, I hope you’ll leave me a review so I know what you thought. Not to mention reviews help other readers decide whether or not to check out a story.
That’s all for now, my Followers. I’m off to work on the next collection of short stories. Hopefully I can tell you more about that at a later date. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
Surprise! The new episode of the Tales to Terrify podcast dropped today instead of tomorrow. Which means my new short story, “White Leaves,” is now live and available to be listened to. It tells the story of an apartment complex that wakes up one morning to find the entire place blanketed in strange white leaves.
Did I mention that this episode is not just the Halloween episode, but episode 666? That’s a devilishly awesome coincidence!
Anyway, if you’re at all interested in giving it a listen, the episode is available to stream now. “White Leaves” is the third and final story in the episode and comes about twenty-eight minutes in after some sponsor ads. It’s quite spooky, if I do say so myself. I’ll include a link below. And be sure to let me know what you think when you’re done! I love reader feedback, after all.
Happy Halloween, my Followers of Fear. I hope you’re having a wonderfully creepy day. And I hope you check out the “Hannah” radio play later today at 7 PM EST on WCBE 90.5’s website. Yeah, I can’t stop speaking about this, but can you blame me? It’s my very first story adaptation!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
Rami Ungar The Writer 