“This book is perfect for your conservative relatives. Especially at Thanksgiving.” This is the description I got of Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman, a satirical horror novel about a demonic apocalypse. With a description like that, I was intrigued. And this past Thanksgiving, I started the audio book.
To which I say, “Woo-boy? What did I get myself into?”
Wake Up and Open Your Eyes starts with Noah Fairchild, who goes from his home in Brooklyn to check on his estranged parents after his mother leaves a strange, conspiracy-filled message in his voicemail and then doesn’t pick up. When he gets down there, he finds his parents seemingly brainwashed into dementia by their conservative news shows. However, it’s actually the beginning of the apocalypse. And the demons are possessing people through their devices. And what they choose to consume through their devices.
As I said, this is a satirical horror novel, so there are plenty of funny moments that made me laugh out loud. One of the main sources of possession is a parody of Fox News, and it’s so thinly disguised, you can tell immediately which anchor is getting made fun of. In the final third of the novel, the story is actually narrated by a fictional version of a real life news anchor, only he’s a hallucination living in a character’s head to help them process these events!* And even in the apocalypse, people are posting videos to YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok, as if they need to share their most intimate moments to make them real.
However, this is a horror novel, and it gets horrifying! The demon-possessed do some seriously fucked up shit when they take over people, and a lot of it is described in excruciating detail. The amount of body horror and gross out elements even borders on extreme horror, so it can be uncomfortable at times (I just barely tolerated it).
Still, it is hard to put down. While at first I could only listen to it in small doses, over time I got so hooked, I listened whenever I could. And the ending, while some may hate it, is definitely quite fitting for such a bleak horror novel.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I’m giving Wake Up and Open Your Eyes by Clay McLeod Chapman a 4.5. It’s bleak, horrifying, and pokes plenty of fun at a nation/world/species that is willing to give up its thinking faculties and let a talking head on a screen do the thinking for you (not just conservatives; liberals and everyone else, too). If you have a strong stomach and are at all interested, give it a read. You may never be able to look at cable news, wellness gurus, or even “Baby Shark” the same ever again, but it might just be worth it.
*And can I say, I find it so bold to put real, living figures in your stories, using their real names? I’ve read a few stories like this, such as Shoeless Joe featuring JD Salinger, or a story by Jonathan Maberry where Kevin Hart and Kelly Clarkson, among others, make an appearance. And ever time, I marvel. I know it’s kind of allowed if they’re a public figure and it’s either parody or their fictional selves are acting in a way that would correlate with their real selves. But still, it’s not something I would consider doing (especially when I put real figures in my stories as a form of punishment for real life bad acts). I would be too worried about getting sued!
In previous years, I’ve gone as the King in Yellow.
As Cthulhu.
As Sweeney Todd.
Going up to people in that last one and telling them they could use a shave freaked so many people out.
But now, I go as something even more terrifying. Something even stranger. Something that will outclass all these previous costumes with its power to scare. Ladies and gentlemen, Followers of Fear, prepare thyselves. I present to thee, my costume for Halloween 2025.
David S. Pumpkins.
Not what you were expecting, was it?
So, if you’re unaware, David Pumpkins is a character Tom Hanks originated on an episode of Saturday Night Live some years ago. The character and the sketch, which you can watch HERE, went viral, and has been making people laugh ever since. Truth be told, I’ve wanted to dress as the character for a few years now. However, this year, I decided to finally go ahead and dress up the character.
The original David S. Pumpkins, as played by Tom Hanks on Saturday Night Live.
And I have to say, I like how I look in the costume. Plus, it’s a nice fit! Even the pants fit nice, despite no belt loops for my belt.
And you know I’m going to find all sorts of opportunities to wear the costume, either in part or in full. Hell, that tie might show up at my cousin’s bat mitzvah next month!
Or not. I don’t want to give my dad a heart attack that badly.
Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll be back Thursday with another blog post. But until then, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 10 days till Halloween! Is the condo jumping up and down with excitement, or is that just me?
Oh happy day! Not only is Symphony for Walpurgis is now available on Apple Books (see my last post), but I just got my first acceptance of the year today! God, if only I had ice cream and beer on hand, I would be partying right now!
Maybe I’ll get some when I go to see Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare tomorrow…
Anyway, I’m sure you’re all curious to know what’s been accepted for publication. Well, it’s an essay, and it’s going to appear in Trollbreath Magazine, a speculative fiction magazine that publishes a wide variety of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. They’re rather new, but they already seem to be doing well, and I’m excited to be able to help set the tone for the non-fiction pieces they publish in the future.
You can learn more about, get back issues of, and support Trollbreath Magazine by visiting their website here.
As for the essay they’re publishing, it’s “Being in the Fallout: Options to Take When Your Heroes Reveal a Dark Side.” Inspired by the allegations against Neil Gaiman last year (and which I make reference to in the essay), I look at some of the paths fans can take when their idols turn out to have really disgusting views or have committed horrible acts. The Gaiman allegations really upset me in particular, and wondering how I should treat him and his work in the wake of that inspired me to write the essay.
So, between now and March 1st, when Trollbreath’s spring issue comes out, we’ll edit the essay to make sure it’s up to snuff. I’m looking forward to the creative process and to seeing it in the final product.
You know, despite current events being a total shit show, things have been going mostly well for me. Especially in the writing department! I’ve been making strides in both writing new stories and getting Symphony for Walpurgis in people’s hands. Plus, one of the sensitivity readers for The Shape of Evil has been sending me updates every now and then, and from what they said, they like it so far.
And now this. My first acceptance of the year! All within the first two weeks of 2025. What’s going to happen with the other 50? Actually, don’t tell me. I want to find out for myself. Still, it makes me think that if I keep working hard, things will keep working out for me this year. Who knows? By this time next year, I could be on my way to writing full time.
But in the meantime, I would like to thank Trollbreath Magazine for accepting my essay for publication, and I want to thank my critique group for giving me feedback on my essay. I literally couldn’t have done it without any of you.
Now, if anyone needs me, I’ll be reading before heading to bed. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
As we’ve entered September, horror fans have started celebrating spooky season. Because as we all know, spooky season starts as soon as the stores start putting up stock, and a few stores already have. And since we’re all thinking about what movies to watch, I’m putting out another list of films you can consider for this year.
I’ve tried to come up with a good mix of well-known and lesser-known films, as well as a good mix of older and newer films. So, hopefully there’s something here that will appeal to every horror fan out there. Enjoy, and let me know if you’re familiar with any of these films or if there are any I should check out myself. The more films we share, the better!
YellowBrickRoad (2010) In 1940, a small New Hampshire town up and walked north along an unmarked trail into the unexplored woods. Half were found dead, and the other half were never found. In modern day, a film crew tries to figure out the mystery of the disappeared townsfolk, including following the townspeople on the route they went. A route with a stone marker bearing the legend “YELLOWBRICKROAD.”
This move is an unsung gem. It’s a surreal and psychological piece of rural horror that takes the isolation and interpersonal conflicts of The Blair Witch Project and ups the ante by 100%. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is certainly going to be an interesting watch, no matter what.
Antrum (2018) A film-within-a-film, Antrum is a documentary about…Antrum, a supposedly cursed film said to be the deadliest film in history. The documentary crew manage to get a rare copy of the film, and, for the first time, show it to the public. What proceeds is a horrifying trip through hell which will leave you wondering if you’ll survive to see the morning.
I love horror mockumentaries, and this one is one of the best I’ve seen. It starts out as a documentary, showcasing the history of the film, before showing us the actual film. And it all feels damn realistic, to the point you could almost believe there’s a cursed film called Antrum and you’re really watching it. In fact, my sister and I saw it together and wondered if we would survive after watching it! As you can see, we did, but it still made us believe a little.
Peeping Tom (1960) This proto-slasher follows a shy young man who works as a cameraman and spends his free time killing women while recording their deaths. It’s a slow-burn psychological horror that really lets you get to know its main character. I’m honestly surprised it hasn’t been remade, because we’re so obsessed with recording everything. Anyway, I would totally check this out if you’re interested. It’s not as bloody and horrifying as other horror films, but it is fascinating and at times quite tense.
The Dark and the Wicked (2020) A pair of siblings return to the family farm when it appears their father is on death’s door. However, events unfold that show that something sinister at the farm. And it’s after the family. It’s a very dark and nihilistic film, and while some will be annoyed by certain aspects of the film, such as how the characters react to the supernatural presence, it is still a very chilling film. If you’re looking for something very morbid and grim, this film is for you.
The Void (2016) After finding an injured man on the side of the road, a sheriff’s deputy and several other townsfolk find themselves under siege at the local hospital, menaced not just by a mysterious cult, but by monsters hidden within the hospital hallways. For those who love cosmic horror, this is one of the best I’ve seen in years. The special effects and creature designs bring to mind both The Thing and Color Out of Space, and the story is a terrifying thrill ride. It’s a movie that gets better with every viewing, and I highly recommend it if you want to scare yourself silly this Halloween.
Late Night with the Devil (2023) In the 1970s, a struggling late night show host brings the lone survivor of a Satanic cult and the therapist working with her onto the show for a Halloween special. As you can imagine, shit eventually hits the fan. When this film got its limited theatrical run earlier this year, people were raving about it and even called it the best horror film of 2024. While I wouldn’t call it that, I would say it’s quite scary and a well-done film. I’m actually planning on watching it again myself as soon as my copy comes in from the library.
(I should warn you, though, a couple of images from the film utilize AI. It’s only three, but I know a lot of people feel strongly about AI, so I figured you should know.)
When Evil Lurks (2023) In a world where demons physically manifest like diseases and can infect everyone around the possessed, a pair of brothers try to protect their families when an infected individual goes missing and the disease starts to spread around the tiny village.
Some have called this the best horror film of 2023, and I can see why it was called that. Besides having a neat twist on the concept of demonic possession, this Argentinian horror film has plenty of tension and scary moments that keep you on the edge of your seat. Give it a watch and see for yourself.
Stopmotion (2023) A stopmotion animation artist is assisting her demanding mother in completing her last film. When the latter becomes gravely ill, the artist tries to make her own film, only to find herself spiraling into Hell.
I’m not normally a fan of horror stories where the whole premise is “the horror is the main character’s spiral into mental illness.” However, this film is quite captivating in how it melds stopmotion animation and real life storytelling to give us a frightening film with some seriously disturbing imagery. Warning you now: have a strong stomach before you go in to watch this one.
Night of the Demon (1957) A psychologist comes to England for a convention, only to learn that one of his esteemed colleagues has died and a so-called magician and cult leader is claiming his magic is responsible. Along with the deceased professor’s niece, the psychologist investigates the magician and his cult, and along the way learns that there may be more to the magician’s claims of magical power than just trickery and suggestible followers.
While it’s an older film, it’s quite influential in showing the demon multiple times throughout the film (quite unusual for the time), and many horror fans and creators, including Stephen King, have cited it as an influence. Just don’t watch its shortened American version, Curse of the Demon, because the original is the one to watch.
Land of the Dead (2005) Set in the same universe as Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead, Land of the Dead takes place decades after the undead have taken over the world. Pittsburgh has become a last bastion for humanity, with the wealthy living in a magnificent luxury skyscraper and the poor living in slums. However, when one zombie, nicknamed Big Daddy, begins leading his kind to the city after a supply raid ruins his territory, it sets off a chain of events that will forever change the city.
Fun fact: this was the first time in the film series the word “zombie” was actually used for the zombies! Up until now, the terms used were “ghouls” or “undead.” Besides that, the film’s quite thrilling, with plenty of horror and action to satisfy fans. Give it a watch, especially if you’ve seen the first two films in the series (I would skip Day of the Dead, the third film).
Other fun fact: I’ve met Eugene Clark, the actor who played Big Daddy, and he was very nice. He even let me take a photo with him, which you can find on my Instagram.
In the Mouth of Madness (1994) An insurance investigator goes to a small town to try and locate a horror author whose work is considered so terrifying, people have actually gone crazy from reading it. What happens there, however, will not only change him forever, but the world as well.
The last film in John Carpenter’s Apocalypse trilogy (the first two being The Thing and my own favorite, Prince of Darkness), this film has grown quite the cult following due to its meta-narrative and exploration of cosmic horror. It’s not perfect, but it’s a fun and at times quite scary movie with lots of great imagery and cool ideas involving what it’s like to live in a fiction story. By the end, you’ll want to read Sutter Cane’s work as well. No matter what it does to your sanity.
The Empty Man (2020) In the 1990s in the nation of Bhutan, a group of American tourists discover a cave, which leads to terrifying events on a mountaintop. Twenty-three years later, a former police officer is asked by a friend to find her missing daughter, and finds himself wrapped in a cult with ties to the tourists in Bhutan.
This movie is almost hypnotic in how it draws you in, and it is both terrifying and…dare I say this? It’s satisfying. It’s that good, and I’m honestly sad that it’s rarely available on any streaming service I actually have access to (and never on DVD or Blu-Ray). Anyway, it’s a great horror film, so check it out if you trust my word.
Pontypool (2008) In a small Canadian town, a radio host and his team are working in the middle of a blizzard when they get reports of riots and horrifying deaths happening elsewhere in town. As time goes on, a strange sort of apocalypse starts to occur in the town. An apocalypse based around language.
I first saw this in college and loved it. I saw it again recently, and, while there are some aspects about the ending I dislike/don’t buy, it still holds up very well. It’s a very tense and freaky film with a great concept at its heart, so if you’re looking for a fun twist on the zombie apocalypse, I highly recommend this one.
And those are my recommendations, my Followers of Fear. But tell me, Followers of Fear, have you seen any of these films? What did you think? And what are you watching this season? Anything you would add to this list? Let’s discuss.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only 52 days till Halloween! Get the Headless Horseman’s horse ready for him at once!
Hello humans! I’m happy to announce that I already have some events for next year on the docket. And, because I’m so excited for the possibilities in 2024, I’m letting you know what I’ll be at. Who knows? Maybe we’ll be able to see each other at one of the events. I would love it if a Follower of Fear showed up at an event to see me.
First, next month I’ll be returning to ConFusion Science Fiction Convention in Novi, Michigan! This year’s theme is Labyrinth of Confusion (as in the underrated David Bowie film), and it’ll be occurring on January 19th – January 21st at the Sheraton Novi. I’ll be selling books and, if I’m lucky, speaking on a panel or two. (I signed up to be on panels and took a survey to show which ones I’m interested in, but we’ll see if they want someone as scary as me talking to general audiences.) If you can, register to go and come get some signed books from me. You can find out more on their website.
Then, in May I’ll be heading back up to Mansfield for ParaPsyCon! This wonderful paranormal convention takes place on May 17-19 at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH. If you’re not aware, the Reformatory is a former prison that has served as a film set for numerous movies, including The Shawshank Redemption, and is also one of the most haunted locations in America (as well as one of my favorites). And this year promises to be bigger and better than ever, as they’re partnering up with Hearsemania, a traveling car show of customized hearses! Sounds like my kind of thing, doesn’t it? I can’t wait to see all the coffin-carrying cars!
And finally, it looks like I’ll be teaming up with some old friends in August. Remember in 2020, while visiting friends in Iowa, I did a book fair known as the Indie Author Book Expo? Well, the group that put on that fair has expanded throughout the Midwest and is doing a show in Terre Haute, Indiana on August 10th, 2024 at the convention center. And I sent in an application to go.
Kid you not, the organizer emailed me after I submitted my application, telling me she screamed in excitement. Never had anyone react to my going to an event like that before! Anyway, if you want to learn more, you can learn more on their website. They have events all over the place and one or two might be near you, so check them out.
Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll be sure to let you know if I get signed up for any more events and I’ll put out reminders before the events so you remember.
And if you can’t make it to any of the events but you’d still like to support me, or if you’re just looking for a good, scary book, you can check out my Book Links and Excerpts page, which I’ll link below. All my books and stories, including a free story, are available there. Be sure to check them out, and if you decide to read something of mine, let me know what you think. I would love to hear what you think, and your reviews help me and other readers out in the long run.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares!
So, if you weren’t aware, I am taking part in the 2023 Face of Horror contest. This contest requires contestants to get votes from their social media platforms. Each round, those who have enough votes move to the next round. The winner will get a cash prize and a photoshoot with Kane Hodder (AKA the actor who played Jason Voorhees the most) in Rue Morgue magazine.
And as of 1 PM EST today, the contest has begun.
The first round, “First Kill,” runs from today, September 5th, to September 14th. All competitors are divided into groups, and each group will be reduced to its top twenty competitors based on votes. So, if you would like to help me win this contest, this is the first hurdle. What do you have to do? Well, you can vote for me.
Now, a couple of things to keep in mind:
First off, I don’t expect to win. There are plenty of other people participating in the contest, and many of them likely have bigger followings or are better at getting their followers to respond to calls to action. I’m doing it mostly because it’s fun, it’s something I want to do, and I was able to meet many new Followers of Fear by participating last year. I’m hoping for a repeat of that this year. That being said, I will fight hard to get as far as I can this year. After all, that’s the point of a contest, isn’t it? And who knows? I may even win. And if I do, woo-hoo! I will be a very happy eldritch entity disguised as a human storyteller.
You’re under no obligation to vote for me. This is all voluntary, and you don’t have to participate if you don’t want to. That being said, if you do vote for me and help me get through the rounds, I’ll greatly appreciate it.
So, if you would like to vote for me, all you need to do is click the button below. That will take you to my profile page, where you can cast one vote a day. Do that each day, and that will help me immensely.
You can also buy extra votes by donating to B+, a charitable foundation that provides support to families whose children have cancer, as well as funding research into juvenile cancer. But again, that’s only if you want to.
Anyway, I look forward to updating you on my progress through the contest. Who knows what will happen as a result of my participating and your votes? Only time will tell. That, and you clicking that button.
As you know, my Followers of Fear, we’re just eighteen days away from the release of my new collection of short stories, Hannah and Other Stories. This collection is perfect Halloween reading, with tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things. And while it’s currently only available in ebook format, if it does well, it may end up in paperback and even audio book!
So, use any of the options below and prepare for a world of terror on September 23rd. I look forward to hearing what you think of the book, so be sure to leave reviews. And until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares!
Many of you may remember last year, I participated in a contest called The Face of Horror. Participants competed for votes from their social media networks and fans to make it through the rounds, with the eventual prize being a walk-on role in a horror movie and a photo spread with Kane Hodder (he played Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th four times, the most of any actor). I got pretty far last year, but I lost once the rounds started getting more competitive.
Still, I had fun, I was able to grow the number of my Followers of Fear a bit, and I learned how much some of you support me in my endeavors, which touched me in my cold, black, demonic heart. And I thought that was that.
But recently, I found out the Face of Horror contest would be happening again, this time with the prize being another photo spread with Kane Hodder and a cash prize. And you know what? I decided to sign up again. I mean, I don’t expect to win, but if last year is any indication, I’m going to have fun and meet some new Followers of Fear along the way. And if I win? Great. I’ll be able to spread word of my stories a bit further and get a nice cash prize while I’m at it.
So, the contest formally starts September 5th. My profile for the contest is listed below. If you would like to support me for this contest, you can either vote once daily for me, or you can buy extra votes by donating to a cancer research society through the contest’s page. You’re under no obligation to vote for me, but it would make me happy if you did.
Anyway, that’s all for now. I’ll post again when September 5th rolls around. I hope you’ll support me and help me get through the first few rounds of the contest. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!
One more thing, my Followers of Fear: we’re only 36 days away from Hannah and Other Stories releasing. This book is great Halloween reading, with tales of ghosts, budding serial killers and carnivorous horses, among other things. If you’re looking for another way to support me, or just a good scary book, you can preorder below.
And if you like what you read, please leave a review online so I know what you think. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and they help both me and other readers in the long run. Anyway, once more, good night and pleasant nightmares.
If you’ve been paying attention to the news lately, you may be aware that billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter and has been turning it from a somewhat tolerable landscape to a freaking hellhole. I’m not going to go into details, because you can read all that elsewhere, but suffice to say, a lot of people have been wondering if now is a good time to get off Twitter and find a new platform to interact with that does the same thing as Twitter. For us writers, we’ve been looking for a new platform where we can talk about writing and maybe avoid the vitriol that seems to have been given free reign on Twitter these days.
One of those platforms is called Hive Social, which I’ve seen a lot of posts about on both Twitter and Facebook this past week. It seemed like a good platform, a lot of writers and horror types I’m connected with were trying it out, and I’m usually slow on new social media trends and wanted to not be the last again, so I decided to give it a try yesterday. Besides, the platform’s website says it doesn’t tolerate hate speech or any other sort of awful behavior, which honestly appeals to me in the wake of certain decisions by Twitter’s new leader.
So, now I have an account on Hive. I’ve gotten about forty-something followers, posted a couple of times, and have liked other people’s posts as well. How does it compare to Twitter?
Well, it does have some room to improve. The app is slow to load or register likes at times, and the search engine feature doesn’t always bring you to the person you’re looking for, even when you type their full name in. You can’t access the app from the laptop just yet, only your mobile devices, and occasionally the app just shuts itself off mid-use. And you can’t leave a link so people can directly go to your page on the platform.
However, this may be because of its sudden popularity. I doubt anyone running the app could have foreseen so many people migrating over to Hive as Twitter continues to implode, so they’re probably scrambling to make sure the app is at least somewhat able to handle all these people. In fact, I did see a post from the app’s company asking people to be patient as they try and deal with the new influx of users.
So, there is a chance this app could improve as time goes on. Of course, there’s also a chance that it won’t replace Twitter and that we’ll stay on there. Or maybe we’ll go off both apps and find something else. It’s hard to tell the future. All we know is that Twitter might not be a good place to stay for the foreseeable future and that we may not be able to stay on there for much longer.
In the meantime, I’ll keep trying both apps for a while before I make any final decisions, one way or another. And while I can’t leave a link to my page on Hive, I can leave links to my other social media (though you can also look to the left and see them listed there). If you want to check me out on any of these platforms, please do. And if you end up subscribing, I hope you and I will have plenty of wonderful interactions on these other apps.
One more thing before I sign off tonight, my Followers of Fear: I found out today that my short story “The Dedication of the High Priestess,” which combines ballet with the figure of the King in Yellow, will be read aloud on the Tales to Terrify podcast this Friday. I’m so excited for you all to experience this story! I’m quite proud of it and I really hope you enjoy it. I’ll be sure to post a link as soon as it’s out.
You’re probably wondering what this is about. Well, a little while ago I heard about a contest for horror fans called the Face of Horror. What’s it about? Well, various horror fans and creators sign up to show that they are the greatest horror fans there are. The Face of Horror, if you will. And over the coming days, you’ll be able to vote for the candidate of your choice.
Guess who signed up as a contestant?
That’s right, me. I mean, can you blame me? And what happens if I actually win? Well, I’ll earn $13,000; get to stay in Buffalo Bill’s house from Silence in the Lambs for two nights (apparently it’s a real place in Pennsylvania); a walk-on role in the next movie of the director running the contest, Jim Vendiola; and a photo shoot with Kane Hodder, the only actor to play Jason Voorhees more than once, let alone four times, in Rue Morgue magazine! And all I need is your votes.
Now, I know you guys don’t owe me a thing and there’s no reason for any of you to help me. However, even if I don’t win, this could be a good opportunity for me. By participating, I might get even just a little bit of exposure, which may help me find some new readers. And if I end up winning, this could be a huge boost to my career! I could end up meeting all sorts of new people and followers through this contest.
Plus, you would have my gratitude in helping me move forward through the contest and hopefully furthering my career.
So, how do you vote? Click on the highlighted link below, and it’ll take you to my profile. You can cast one free vote per day during the contest, and can purchase additional votes (a portion of proceeds from purchased votes going to the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which funds pediatric cancer research and financial assistance for families of patients). All you need is a Facebook account and/or a valid credit/debit card (especially if you intend to purchase more votes).
Anyway, this post being out means that the contest has begun, and the first round will go until September 15th. That’s at least ten chances for each person to vote. I hope you’ll consider voting and helping me out with moving onto the next round. Who knows? You may end up helping me further my dreams by leaps and bounds just with your support.
One more thing: I’ll be at the Mystics and Marvels fair on Saturday and Sunday, September 10th and 11th, from 11 AM – 6 PM, at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Hilliard, Ohio. This is a really cool convention with Tarot readers and fortune tellers, stones and crystals sellers, and, of course, authors. I’ll be at the chapter for the Ohio chapter of the Horror Writers Association, HWA Ohio, so stop by if you can. You can check out more information at the website here.
And on Saturday, September 17th, the Pickerington Public Library is holding an Author Spotlight Event for Ohio authors at their location in Pickerington, Ohio from 10 AM – 2 PM. I will be signing and selling books at a spooktacular table, so I hope you’ll stop by and say hello.
And if you can’t make it to either event but would still like to support me (in addition to voting, of course), you can always check out one of my books and let me know what you think when you read it. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback and it helps me in the long run. I’ll include links below.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll check in again soon. So until next time, happy voting and pleasant nightmares!
The cover’s typo is finally fixed. In case you hadn’t noticed.
Do I need an introduction? The Pure World Comes, my Gothic horror novel, has been out a week. And I am really happy with the results.
The Story
Shirley Dobbins wants nothing more than to live a quiet life and become a head housekeeper at a prestigious house. So when she is invited to come work for the mysterious baronet Sir Joseph Hunting at his estate, she thinks it is the chance of a lifetime. However, from the moment she arrives things are not what they seem. As she becomes wrapped up in more of the baronet’s radical science, she realizes something dark and otherworldly is loose within the estate. And if left unchecked, it’ll claim the lives of all she holds dear.
That blurb on the back has gotten some people interested, so I’m proud of it. Along with the whole book, of course. It’s kind of a love letter to the Victorian era and the literature that came out around that time (particularly the scary books). And for all the glitz and charm that era has in our memories, it was actually a pretty dirty era, especially if you lived in London. I actually included a lot of the grosser stuff of the era, such as shit-filled streets, crazy theories about pregnancy and childbirth (trust me, they had some wacky beliefs), and Jack the Ripper.
Yeah, he appears in the novel as well. Anyway, I worked hard to make the age feel real to readers while at the same time delivering a terrifying novel. And I think based off the reviews, I did just that. More on that later, though.
Triviaabout The Pure World Comes
I’m not lying, I’ve kind of wanted to do some trivia for this book for a while. And now that it’s been out for a week and a lot of people are reading it, I think I’ll do some trivia:
The Westover plantation. See the resemblance?
If TPWC were to be made into a movie (I can dream), I think I know whom I’d like to play the two leads, Shirley Dobbins and Sir Joseph Hunting. At least, using the current roster of actors out there. First, for Shirley, I’d want Millie Bobby Brown. If you’ve seen Enola Holmes, you know why. As for Sir Joseph, I’d like either Robert Carlyle (Rumpelstiltskin in Once Upon a Time) or Julian Richings (Death in Supernatural). I kind of based the character on both men and integrated parts of the characters they played into Sir Joseph, so it would be awesome if either of them were to play the character.
As for the Hunting Lodge, Sir Joseph’s home (and technically also a character, as tends to happen in Gothic stories), I based it on the Westover Plantation in Charles City County, Virginia. The red brick, symmetrical house just struck me as having a lot of character, so with some mods I made it into the Hunting Lodge.
I originally had ideas for more characters around Shirley’s age, and there was going to be a whole lot of love triangles and unrequited loves and whatnot. You know, kind of like what goes on in Bridgerton (which is Regency rather than Victorian, but you get the idea). However, that got complicated pretty fast and distracted from the main plot, so I whittled it down to just one and stuck with it.
Finally, I added a whole lot of references and Easter eggs to the story for kicks. Some of you might have realized that the character of Nellie is named after the character from Wuthering Heights, a classic of Victorian literature (even if I do hate it). But I also included references to Doctor Who, Once Upon a Time, and even the anime Overlord. Points to everyone who can find them all!
Reviews
As I said above, I’ve been getting some great reviews on TPWC. At the time I’m writing, the book has four on Amazon and thirteen on Goodreads. Here is what people are saying:
I really like Gothic stories, so I was excited to read this, and it didn’t disappoint.
I liked the protagonist very much. Shirley had many qualities that, for me, make a strong protagonist. She struck me as being a character who didn’t rely on others for approval, and while she seemed a sensitive character in many ways, I felt that she was self-contained. She was not overly emotional, and it seemed that she had a realistic view of the world around her. I liked that.
The story itself was very gripping, and there were even some moments that caused me to gasp in surprise while I was reading. However, this was something that encouraged me to keep reading.
Something else that I enjoyed about this was that it wasn’t too long or drawn out. It was a satisfying read, and intriguing read, but short enough to read in one sitting, if desired. The kind of thing that I might choose if I wanted a short book to read on the evening before my book club meeting. I have some friends who are keen on this type of story too, so I may recommend this book to them.
Kelly Marie Purdy, Goodreads
In Victorian England, Shirley Dobbins rises from lowly maid to competent scientist. The problem is, her tutor and employer is a mad scientist, and his mansion is haunted.
I loved the cast Ungar put together, young to old, rich and poor, lower class and upper class, and most dramatically, kind hearted and evil. The mad scientist’s haunted mansion is a character, too, with its secret laboratory and portals and rats and a haunted toilet.
Jack the Ripper makes an appearance. He mostly lurks in the background, but he adds a menacing plot thread to the book. It feels natural to the story and the setting, not at all gimmicky on Ungar’s part.
Meanwhile, Shirley and the mad scientist are trying to perfect animal and human imperfections, but where do they draw the line between playing doctor and playing God?
While I enjoyed this story, there’s a scene that contains a misunderstanding about the physics of vacuums. But if readers aren’t into science they might not notice. Also, the title doesn’t work for me. Thematically, it makes sense, but it neither catches my attention nor sparks my imagination. So The Pure World Comes is almost a five-star read for me, but not quite.
Gothic horror fans will love The Pure World Comes. Ungar keeps getting better and better. He has become an auto-buy author for me.
Priscilla Bettis, Amazon
The Pure World Comes by Rami Ungar The story started with a slow build which quickly turned into a page turner for me. It has a bit of a Frankenstein feel to it. It was a little out there but I really enjoyed it.
Anette Johnson, Amazon
Fun fact, the last review is written like that on Amazon and Goodreads and I kind of love how it looks a little like a freestyle poem. But more than that, I love how enthusiastic these reviews are. And if you look online, you’ll see plenty of other people saying positive things about the book. Even the three star reviews seemed to like it, which is nice.
I hope more reviews are like this.
Links
This coming weekend in Mansfield, OH. Hope to see you there.
Anyway, if you want to check this book out, I’ll include links below, including Goodreads. It’s been a fun ride writing, editing, and publishing this book, and seeing what people think of it. i hope with time, more people come to read and enjoy it and let me know what they think. After all, reviews not only help other readers decide if a book is worth their time, they help the writers improve their craft and know what their readers are thinking.
Well, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I hope you enjoy The Pure World Comes. I probably won’t post again until after ParaPsyCon this coming weekend (where I hope TPWC sells out), but the moment something comes up worth posting about, I will. Until next time, good night, happy reading and pleasant nightmares.
Rami Ungar The Writer 