Posts Tagged ‘short story’

Wow, how quickly a month can go by. Are we already in December? Hold on, let me check outside….yes, it’s December. The chill and decorations confirm it!

Anyway, if you don’t remember, early last month I released my Christmas short story, “The Wild Hunt,” as an ebook from the major retailers. Originally published in Hellbound Books’ 2023 anthology Happy Hellidays, the story follows two sisters who run away on Christmas Eve, only to encounter something ancient and mythical in a blizzard. And no, they did not encounter Krampus. There are enough Krampus stories out there to begin with!

Anyway, during this past month, several people have taken an interest in this little story. In fact, it’s been a bestseller in some of Amazon’s subcategory lists, and a few people have even been kind enough to leave reviews! Considering it was kind of a whim to release this story as an ebook, this is more than I could have asked for.

Then again, writing the story in the first place was kind of a whim. I simply desired to contribute to the number of Christmas stories and songs written by Jews. But not only was it published, but people really enjoyed it and even put it on the Bram Stoker Recommended Reading List for that year. So, I guess these whims do turn out some good results every now and again.

Anyway, because I feel obligated to share them, here are the reviews people have been leaving for “The Wild Hunt:”

I felt the cold wind. I felt the biting pain of the snow on Tatum’s exposed face. I thought at any moment the girls’ father would track them down. This is a Christmas story, right? So maybe Santa would come rescue them.

I won’t say exactly what happens, but Ungar cleverly combines Santa with the Wild Hunt legend. So creative, so unexpected, and so Ungar-like. Loved it!

Priscilla Bettis, Amazon

This story is weighty in its themes and definitely not for the faint of heart. That said, it’s pretty fast-paced and has some creative mythology-inspired monsters. If you like having a quick read, this is worth the purchase.

Rose Black, Kobo

It’s always fun to see how an author will work on something familiar in the horror genre. In this case, it’s the wild hunt where mythical creatures are out there, hunting. This was a fun and enjoyable read that is nice for the Christmas season.

Ruth Ann Nordin, Amazon

Incredible, aren’t they? I’m happy so many people enjoyed the story enough to leave their thoughts. And I’m glad they all find it so creative! In a world where nothing under the sun is truly original, that is truly a compliment.

Speaking of which, it’s the holiday season. So, if you’re looking for a Christmas horror story, “The Wild Hunt” might be a good place to start. After all, it’s got Christmas spirit, and some terrifying spirits as well. Plus, it’s a short and affordable read, which is always nice. I’ll include links below.

And if you like what you read, I would be delighted if you left a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and other readers out in the long-run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll be sure to get back with you very soon (probably with my annual reflection of the past year and hopes for the coming year). But until then, good night, pleasant nightmares, and watch out for Krampus. His big day is on Friday!

Hello humans! Wow, time is really moving along, isn’t it? We’re only 38 days away from the end of 2025! Which will require its own blog post at some point, but right now, we’re hear to talk about something else. And that, dear humans, is the second-month anniversary of the re-release of Hannah and Other Stories!

Now, if you don’t know, Hannah and Other Stories is a collection of original stories that was released back in September 2023. The collection contained seven stories, including tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things. (You can see those pesky horses on the cover.) Sadly, the publisher I worked with to release Hannah decided not to renew our contract, and the book went out of print. I decided to re-release it on the two-year anniversary of its original release, complete with a new cover and a new edit.

And thus, on September 23, 2025, Hannah and Other Stories was re-released.

And I’m happy to say, people have been reading the book. It helped that the re-release happened right as spooky season was swinging into high gear, and I was attending so many events. Plus, unlike the first time around, there’s a print version of the book (it’s a long story, don’t ask), which definitely helped. No matter how digital we get, more people prefer print books to ebooks.

But like I said, people are reading the book. And that makes me very happy. I wanted to share these stories with as many people as possible and give them a bit of a thrill and fright with the products of my twisted imagination. And even better, a few people have left their thoughts on the books with reviews. Which makes me even happier, because that’s a great way to let both authors and other readers know how much you enjoyed a book!

Did I mention every review so far has been five stars? I would post them below, but even excerpts would be super spoiler-y.

Anyway, if you’re looking for something spooky to read; or if you know someone who might enjoy a copy as a gift this holiday season; or you just want to support me, I’ll include links below. You can check out the reviews and maybe see if the book is right for you. And if you do end up reading it, I hope you’ll share your thoughts. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and your fellow readers in the long run.

And that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m sure the Americans among us all have a busy week ahead of us, what with Thanksgiving up ahead. But I’ll try to get out another post or two before the month is out. And until then, good night and pleasant nightmares.

I first read IT by Stephen King when I was eleven or twelve: the same age as the characters in the flashbacks. And while I had been reading The Vampire Chronicles and most of Anne Rice’s books up till that point, I didn’t exactly classify it as horror (Anne Rice herself preferred the term “Gothic saga”). So, for me, IT was my first jump into horror since outgrowing Goosebumps.

And it expanded my world. Not only did the novel terrify me, but it showed me just what great, mature horror storytelling looked like. From the terrifying and insidious nature of Pennywise and It’s many forms, to how the novel took the time to let us get to know characters both major and minor. I was entranced and enthralled, even as I was terrified, diving deep into the book every opportunity I could get and learning as much as I could.

By the time I finished the book that summer, I knew what sort of stories I wanted to write in the future.

Without IT, I would not be the writer I am today. Or the person. I might not even be blogging to you right now, now that I think about it!

I bring this all up because, if you weren’t aware, there’s a TV show airing on HBO Max called Welcome to Derry. Taking place in the same universe as the movies, the show goes into events during the 1962 cycle, which was the cycle before the first movie. And unlike the movies, which focused on a core group of characters first during their early teenage years and then during their adult years, Welcome to Derry focuses on a wide variety of characters, including school kids, military personnel at the local Air Force base, and the nearby Native American population.

It’s very Stranger Things in its character development and methods of storytelling. And since the creators of Stranger Things were heavily influenced by IT, among other things, I guess it’s coming full circle?

Well, it feels full circle to me, because while watching the show, I feel like I’m getting a reintroduction to the horror genre. Just like I did when I was a preteen and dove into King’s book. It feels like I’m getting lessons in how to do creative and powerful scares, storytelling with large casts, and character development every time I sit down to watch the show.

Which, while being told through a visual medium instead of a literary one, I’m grateful for. While I’ve made strides in becoming a horror author, I still feel like I have a long way to go before I can be at the same level as the authors I admire and regularly read. And while I learn something about good storytelling every time I enjoy a good book, show, or movie, I feel I’m getting a Master Class in the subject from this show.

Hell, I think in the short story I wrote most recently, some of what I gleaned from Welcome to Derry made it into the story. I wasn’t originally going to apply what I learned, but it occurred to me while I was writing, and I was like, “Oh. That’s good. That’s very good. Let’s try it.” And while I haven’t heard back from the alpha reader yet (I only sent them the story last night, after all), I feel like adding those elements gave the story an extra bit of excitement and terror.

So, with only four episodes of the show left (I have my doubts they’ll do a second season, though I would likely welcome one), I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next. And to seeing what I can glean for use in my own storytelling.

In the meantime, I’m going to get to work on some of that storytelling. I have stories to edit and send to the beta readers, after all. Wish me luck!

And in the meantime, good night and pleasant nightmares.

Me writing and editing under the influences of good storytelling teachers.

Halloween has passed. Outside my condo, the decorations down. Meanwhile, the music stations and the big box stores are putting up the Christmas trees and the tinsel. People are planning their Turkey Day celebrations as preludes for the holiday season. What’s a horror author who basically lives every day as if it’s Halloween to do?

Simple: get in on it!

Some of you may recall two years ago a short story of mine was published in the anthology “Happy Hellidays” from Hellbound Books. The short story, called “The Wild Hunt,” followed two sisters who run away from home on Christmas Eve and come across a group out of ancient myth. I wrote the story because I wanted to follow in the tradition of Jews adding to Christmas music and literature,, though obviously it was a horror story. And, because Krampus stories have been done to death, I decided to focus my story on The Wild Hunt, a mythical group of supernatural hunters, monsters and spirits from legend and mythology.

Now, I decided to release the story as an ebook. It’s been a while since I released a single story like this, and I heard Christmas stories are enjoyed year round, so I thought, “Why the heck not?” Thus, I had a cover commissioned, and put the story out.

Here is the blurb that I’m using for the story:

“Happy Hellidays” from Hellbound Books, where “The Wild Hunt” was first published.

Tatum and Mia have lived under the oppressive thumb of their abusive father for years. But when their father threatens to separate the two sisters, Tatum makes the risky decision to run away on Christmas Eve and take her sister with her. But the blizzard raging isn’t the only danger out there this Christmas Eve. Something ancient and powerful is riding through the blizzard tonight. An army of hunters out of myth and legend.
Will these mythical hunters be the sisters’ salvation? Or their doom?

If you’re at all interested, I’ll leave links below so you can check the story out. It’s a short story, after all, so it should be a quick read, and I remember people really enjoying the story at the time it came out. So, if you decide to check it out, I’m sure you’ll love it.

(Please be aware due to a mistake with the setup on Apple Books, it won’t be available there till Wednesday, November 5th. However, it is available for preorder there.)

And if you end up reading it, I hope you’ll leave a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and your fellow readers out in the long run.

Now, if anyone needs me, I had a long day and I might be getting sick, so I’m going to go indulge in some self-care. I just wanted to make sure people knew this story was available to read this holiday season.

So until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and have a lovely holiday season.

So, if you have been here a while, you know I’m in the middle of editing a lot of stories, with the occasional new works sprinkled throughout. I’m calling this the Second Great Editing, as the original Great Editing was back around 2022 and 2023.

And you’re probably not wondering how that’s going, but I thought I would update you on how the Second Great Editing is going. And, to put it simply, it’s going well. Actually, it’s going very well.

The last time I talked about this, back in August, I mentioned that I had two novellas I needed to work on, plus a few new stories here and there. After that, my plans were open, but I had a feeling, of course, that there would be much more editing involved.

It’s been over two months since then, and I’m happy to say I edited those two novellas. One of them, by the way, I’d been putting off for ages due because it required a lot of rewrites. I’m still traumatized by having to rewrite two-thirds of Rose during one of the later drafts, after all. But once I started working on the novella, it came out wonderfully! I had such fun writing the new scenes and even finding a way to slide in Mothman! And as of last night, when I finished the edits on the novella, I couldn’t help but feel it was twenty times stronger than it was before!

Plus, Mothman. He’s a classic cryptid. You got to love any story he’s in, even if it’s just a silly cameo (though whether or not that’s what’s the case here, I’m not telling).

So, what’s next? Well, I wrote three short stories and one academic paper this year, and they need to be edited. So, I think I’ll do that next. I’ll also be sending the novella with the Mothman in it to a beta reader or two to see if they have any feedback for me.

And, I heard about an amazing anthology opportunity that I’m eager to participate in. It’s a long shot that I’ll get in, but I’ll write a story and send it in when the submission window opens. Who knows? I might get in.

And after that? Well, we’ll see what’s what then. But I have a feeling, the kind that usually comes true, it’ll involve editing. Though what I’ll be editing is up for debate.


Just a reminder, Followers of Fear: I’ll be at the Columbus Witches Ball this coming Saturday, November 1st, at the Ohio Brewing Company in Columbus, Ohio. In between the rituals and lectures, I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readings. If you’d like to join me, I’ll include links to buy tickets below.

And if you’re not able to come but would still like to support me, or you’re looking for a spooky book for Halloween or for someone’s holiday presents, then I’ll include a link for my books page. From plant/human hybrids and strange gods to Mafia-hunting serial killers and carnivorous horses, I have something for every horror fan to enjoy!

And if you end up reading something of mine, please leave a review online so I know. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback. And it helps both me and other readers out in the long run.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and only a day and three hours till Halloween. Am I the only one salivating from excitement and bloodlust? Or are you salivating as well?

Well, here we are. A month has passed. And is it just me, or did it pass by fast? Must be because so much happened in that month.

Anyway, you’re here, so let’s get to the meat of this post. As you know, last month I re-released my collection Hannah and Other Stories after it had gone out of print at the beginning of the year. The collection contains seven stories of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses, among other things, and now has a gorgeous new cover and edit, too.

And I’m happy to say, people have been showing interest in the collection. At my most recent event, in Chardon, I sold nearly half my copies of Hannah. I’ve also heard from several people who have bought copies or plan to buy them in the future. To know that people are reading and enjoying my books just makes my day. Especially since it’s October!

And now we’ve reached the one month mark. Honestly, after the book went out of print, I wondered what it would be like when I reached this point. Hell, since this the first time the book is out in a paperback edition (don’t ask, it’s a long story), I’ve been dreaming about where things would be once the paperback came out. And while not everything is the same as my daydreams (no dragon/motorcycle hybrids to ride around, for one thing), some of the details are right.

Like the smiles on people’s faces when I sign their books. And the photos I get from people who are excited when their copies come in the mail. Those moments mean the world to me.

Anyway, there’s still a little bit of October left, and I have a few events left before the end of the year (more on that later). So, if you would like to check out Hannah and Other Stories yourself; if you would like to support me; or if you’re looking for gifts for family and friends this holiday season, I’ll leave links below. After all, what horror reader wouldn’t love a book full of carnivorous horses, cosmic beasts, and the Paris catacombs, to boot? Especially around this time of year!

And if you end up reading the book, I hope you’ll consider leaving a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and your fellow readers out in the long run. Plus, it’s just a nice way of letting authors know their work is being read and appreciated.

And what’s not to love about that?

Also, one more thing, Followers of Fear: in two days, my friends in HWA Ohio and I will be holding another Scary Saturday event at the Columbus Metropolitan Library! From 12p-4p on Saturday, October 25th, 2025, at the library’s Main Branch, me and my fellow horror writers will be doing readings, playing silly games, and even giving away a prize basket! And costumes are heavily encouraged.

You can register for the event using the link below.

That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’m off to work, and later to drink in celebration of the big anniversary. Until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 8 days till Halloween! Have you met the carnivorous horses yet?

Once again, another post about Hannah and Other Stories being out. Once again, I hope you’re not sick of hearing about it.

But if you’re unaware, today marks three weeks since my collection, Hannah and Other Stories, was re-released. It was originally published in September 2023 through BSC Publishing Group, but it went out of print after the company and I split ways. I decided to re-release it on the two-year anniversary of the original release, complete with a new cover and a new edit. And, because BSC Publishing Group did not have a paperback edition the first time around (they had this whole publishing strategy regarding paperbacks and ebooks I’m not going to get into), it’s now available in a paperback edition.

Thus, I re-released Hannah and Other Stories on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025.

And I’m happy to say, in the three weeks since it’s come out, it’s been doing nicely. That might have something to do with it being October and the number of people looking for something spooky to read for the season. Or it might be me just giving a good pitch. I mean, who wouldn’t want to read a collection of short stories full of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses for the month of October? Even one of the supervisors at work was interested enough to download a copy to his Kindle!

And we’ve even gotten our first review of the new edition. Longtime Follower of Fear Priscilla Bettis left a five-star review of Hannah on Amazon a couple of days after it released, titling her review “Scary and Creative.” Which, obviously, I appreciate. Hopefully, that review encourages a lot more people to read the new edition and maybe leave reviews of their own. I know I would like that.

And if you are at all curious to check out Hannah and Other Stories, I’ll leave links below. As I said, it’s currently available in both paperback and ebook this go-around, and I hope to add an audio version if things go well. In the meantime, if you end up reading the book, please leave a review letting me know what you think. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps both me and your fellow readers in the long run.

And that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I will give you a slightly longer break between Hannah posts, as the one-month post will be coming out not next Tuesday, but on the actual one-month anniversary, October 23rd. But don’t sigh in relief just yet; if you don’t get a copy of Hannah or leave a review, I will find other ways to torture you. I’m evil that way, after all.

Anyway, until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 17 days till Halloween. If you’re not sending Halloween-themed cards to your loved ones, you’re doing something wrong. Believe me on that one!

Well, we’re well into October, which means its every horror fan and horror writer’s favorite season. It’s also the season where the latter do our damnedest to get people reading our books, so I might as well keep up the tradition. Specifically, I’ll be promoting Hannah and Other Stories, which has been out in both ebook and paperback for two weeks now!

So, in case you didn’t know, Hannah and Other Stories is a collection of short stories that I originally published through BSC Publishing Group back in 2023. The collection contains seven tales, including tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and carnivorous horses. Unfortunately, when my contract with BSC Publishing Group ended, the book went out of print, so I decided to re-release it on the two-year anniversary of its original release. That was two weeks ago, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025.

And, for the first time, the book is available in both paperback and ebook (we only did ebook last time). Not only that, but it’s got a new cover and a brand new edit. It’s even better than before!

And since we’re in the middle of October, it’s perfect reading for Halloween season, so I’m hoping plenty of people will want to read it. In fact, I’m doing quite a few events this month just to get the book in people’s hands (more on those below). With any luck, people will not only get copies, but read it. Maybe even review it.

And speaking of which, if you’re at all curious and want to read Hannah this Halloween season, I’ll include links below. And if you enjoy what you read, please leave a review or rating online somewhere. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me out in the long run.

Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 24 days till Halloween. Has anyone else started growing horns and a forked tail, or is that just me?


One more thing, my Followers of Fear: this Saturday, I’ll be in Chardon, Ohio for the Ohio Viking Festival and the Cryptid Con & Curios Fest (sort of like a double festival or a festival within a festival). I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readings from noon to 6 PM, so if you can stop by, please do. I would be happy to see you.

Time flies when you’re visiting horror museums and editing stories, doesn’t it?

So, we’re one week away from the re-release of Hannah and Other Stories. If you’re unaware, this is a collection of short stories that was originally published in 2023. The stories include tales of ghosts, budding serial killers, and even carnivorous horses. The book went out of print at the end of 2024 when my contract with the publisher expired, but I’m re-releasing it a week from today, on Tuesday, September 23, 2025. Two years from the day it was originally released.

And in paperback, no less! Last time, it was only available in ebook (don’t ask). I’m excited to see it in paperback.

Not to mention, with a new cover and a fresh new edit on the story. It looks absolutely beautiful, both inside and out, and I can’t wait for people to read it. Perhaps, if enough people check out the new edition, both physical and digital, there can even be an audio version. You never know.

And if you’re looking for a good collection to read this spooky season, or you’re interested in supporting me, or both, guess what? Hannah and Other Stories will be out in one week, but it’s available for preorder. (Paperback is only available for preorder at Barnes & Noble, because Amazon is weird that way and Kobo and Apple Books is digital only.) So, if you’d like to preorder a copy, I’ll include links to the retailers below.

And if you end up reading it and liking it, I hope you’ll leave a review. Positive or negative, I leave reader feedback, and it helps both me and other readers in the long run.

Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll see you next week, when the book comes out. May be having a sweet drink, too. But until next time, good night, pleasant nightmares, and 45 days till Halloween. Is that one of the Thousand Young in my front yard? And yours too?

Believe me, that’s going to make more sense when you read the book.

It’s no secret that disability has had a troubled portrayal in our media. There’s inspiration porn in the news, which tries to make able-bodied people feel “inspired” to achieve their goals at the expense of making the disabled seem pitiful and hopeless. People with dwarfism are often equated with fantasy settings or fantastical elements. And, of course, there’s horror. Horror’s history with disability has been, to say the least, fraught.

Look, I love this genre. That’s obvious. But it’s no secret that, when the genre was coalescing, a lot of horror came from stereotypes of minorities, and the disabled were no exception. Most often, disability was used as a shorthand for sinister or evil. The original Phantom of the Opera was a manipulative groomer, and his later portrayals have added plenty of murder. From Psycho to Split, people with DID are often portrayed as dangerous and even magical. And most of the famous slashers have some form of disability! It’s not the focus of the characters, but it’s definitely there.

That being said, it hasn’t always been bad. The 1932 film Freaks was actually pretty progressive for its time, with many of its disabled characters getting humanizing portrayals. American Horror Story‘s fourth season, Freak Show, was heavily inspired and influenced this film. A Quiet Place and its sequels have been very disability-positive.

The problem is, sometimes even the positive portrayals are problematic. I still cringe over the characters of Duddits from Stephen King’s Dreamcatcher, and the autistic kid in 2018’s Predator somehow being an important factor in human (and Predator) evolution felt…well-intentioned but missed the mark. And just earlier this year, I read a recent book by an author I like which included a character with mental disabilities who was kind of psychic/magical, a secondary antagonist with a cleft palate, and a main antagonist with an eyepatch!

That’s why I’m glad that, as both the community and the genre evolves, more disabled writers join it and include disabled characters like themselves in their stories. I’m among those writers. The Shape of Evil‘s three main characters all have various disabilities, and in two short stories I wrote recently, the major characters all have disabilities as well. The stories themselves are still not published, but I’m working to get The Shape of Evil out there, and the other two stories will hopefully find homes soon after I edit them.

And as those stories, as well as other stories by disabled writers, get published, perhaps there will be ripple effects. The fiction we consume can have a noticeable effect on our perception of the world. Perhaps with portrayals that are just not more positive, but also realistic, we can make the world a nicer place for the disabled.

And given that 1 in 5 people have or will get a disability, but most of the US is still not accessible and laws aren’t always disabled-friendly, that would be nice.