OWSCyCon Blog Tour: Horror, Vampires, and the Darkness Within

What if your neighbour was a vampire?

That is the premise that began the story I tell in my novella, Chronicles of the Undead. What if that charming, sophisticated pair next door hid evil secrets, did horrific things behind closed doors. What if they were killers?

How would you react? Would you reject the darkness or embrace it?

Those were the questions I posed to my three protagonists in the book, as the vampires they encounter become part of their social circle, reveal their secrets and make them all differing offers of alliance and friendship.

The novella explores not only the darkness of the vampires but the darkness in the hearts of the human characters as well. Temptations prove too much, choices are made in the name of obsession, and determination blooms to end the madness.

This inner turmoil is all set against the backdrop of Georgian England when superstition and old belief was giving way to modern science and yet the primal still called within souls...

Read Chronicles of the Undead for Free

For more of the Blog Tour, check out these authors.

The Darkness Within Blog Tour

Naching T. Kassa

K. Matt

Kayla Krantz

Alice De Sampaio Kalkuhl

Michael Salt

A Book Spotlight And A Blog Tour: No Rest For The Wicked

Today the blog is part of the tour for No Rest for the Wicked by Phoebe Darqueling. 

So read on, and enjoy the spotlight for this terrific historical, urban fantasy novel.

No Rest for the Wicked by Phoebe Darqueling

Other people just think they’re “haunted by the past.” In Vi’s case, it’s true.

Clairvoyant Viola Thorne wants to forget about her days of grifting and running errands for ghosts. The problem? Playing it safe is dull. So when a dead stranger begs for her help, Vi jumps at the chance to dust off her hustling skills. The unlikely companions are soon tangling with bandits, cheating at cards, and loving every minute.

Then she finds out who referred him, and Vi has to face both a past and ex-partner that refuse to stay buried. Though she betrayed Peter, his spirit warns her of the plot that cost him his life. Vi’s guilty conscience won’t let her rest until she solves his murder. Though she’s spent her whole life fighting the pull of the paranormal, it holds the key to atoning for the only deception she’s ever regretted—breaking Peter’s heart.

Available from:

Amazon   Barnes and Noble  Black Rose Writing

About the Author

Phoebe Darqueling is the pen name of a globe-trotting vagabond who currently hangs her hat in Freiburg, Germany. In her “real life” she writes curriculum for a creativity competition for kids and edits academic papers by non-native English speakers. She loves all things Steampunk and writes about her obsession on SteampunkJournal.org. She’s been part of several Collaborative Writing Challenge releases, including the collaborative novel she coordinated called Army of Brass. Her short stories can be found in Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales, Chasing Magic, and a new collection called Cogs, Crowns, and Carriages in November. Her solo novels, Riftmaker and No Rest for the Wicked, hit shelves Spring 2019.

Get a FREE copy of The Steampunk Handbook by Phoebe Darqueling when you sign up for Phoebe’s monthly email.

Book Spotlight: Heavenfire

Today the blog is a part of a book tour, for the YA Urban Fantasy, Heavenfire by JK Allen. This is book two in the Angelborn series. Enjoy.

Heavenfire by JK Allen

A divine sword, magic tomes, and uncontrolled power. Can 16-year-old Ginny Gracehurst keep them from an obsessed half-demon?

After retrieving the only thing that could set Jacob’s demon father free, half-angel Ginny has a new mission. She and Aiden are charged with collecting the Eternal Tomes, which teach how to use sigils in the Angelic Tongue.

They are in a race against Jacob and his minions, who can travel anywhere in a matter of seconds. Allowing demonkind to learn those sigils would spell disaster for them all. In order to get what he wants, Jacob needs one more thing besides the Tomes—Ginny herself.

Heavenfire is available at ThreeFuriesPress

And at Amazon in Paperback

Book One, Angelborn is available at Amazon

About the Author

JK Allen wrote her first story when she first learned how to write and hasn’t looked back since. Common writing themes that can be found in her work address identity, everyday magic, and the type of strength that can be found in ordinary people. Several of her short stories and four poems are featured in anthologies.

Angelborn is her first novel in her debut series with Heavenfire continuing the journey. She is currently working on the trilogy as well as several shorts, while researching for a new series in the works. Her reading tastes are as varied as the genres she enjoys writing, from Jane Austen to J.K. Rowling. When she’s not writing, you can find her painting, drawing, or lost in another world between the pages of a book. Or on Facebook.

You can find her on:

Instagram Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest  Website  Amazon

Book Spotlight: The Death Chute

Today I have another book spotlight, this time for the ghostly horror novella, The Death Chute by Ambrose Stolliker. Enjoy.

The Death Chute by Ambrose Stolliker

When his mother, Sophia, is diagnosed with an aggressive form of dementia, 44-year-old reality television producer Jake Porter is forced to leave Hollywood and return to his native Vermont to look after her. His plan is to quickly set her up in a posh new retirement community in the Green Mountains and then head back to Los Angeles to revive his career, which is now in jeopardy after his last few projects bombed in spectacular fashion with TV audiences.

But when he learns that the retirement community was once a tuberculosis sanatorium where many patients died of the dreaded disease, Jake is uneasy at the prospect of leaving Sophia on her own. Only the assurances of the community's chief medical officer, Diane Barrett, convince Jake that his mother will be in good hands. Not long after she's moved in, however, Sophia has the first of many frightening experiences when she encounters the apparition of a little boy suffering from TB. At first, Jake dismisses her story as a symptom of her dementia, but as time goes on, it becomes clear the rest home houses dark secrets and is haunted by something strange and terrible. 

The Death Chute is available on Amazon

About the Author

Ambrose Stolliker lives in the Pacific Northwest with his wife and son. He is the author of two horror novellas, Old Hollow (2018) and The Death Chute (coming April 9, 2019), both from indie publisher Aurelia Leo LLC. His short stories can be seen in Stupefying Stories Magazine, WEIRD CITY, the Tales to Terrify podcast from District of Wonders, Creepy Campfire Quarterly, Ghostlight Magazine, Sex and Murder Magazine, Hungur Magazine, Sanitarium Magazine, The Tincture Journal, Charon Coin Press’ State of Horror: Louisiana, Volume II anthology and DAOwen Publications’ horror anthology Muffled Scream I: Corner of the Eye. Mr. Stolliker is a former newspaper and magazine journalist and currently works in digital marketing at a global technology company in Seattle.

Horror Bites: Next Great Horror Writer

Today I'm featuring a new anthology published by HorrorAddicts.net, the latest in their Horror Bites, series. Enjoy. 

HorrorAddicts.net continues our Horror Bites series with a bundle of new fiction by our Next Great Horror Writer Contestants.

Featuring work by:

Jonathan Fortin

Naching T. Kassa

Daphne Strasert

Jess Landry

Harry Husbands

Sumiko Saulson

Adele Marie Park

Feind Gottes

JC Martínez

Cat Voleur

Abi Kirk-Thomas

Timothy G. Huguenin

Riley Pierce

Quentin Norris

With an introduction by Emerian Rich.

HorrorAddicts.net is proud to present our top 14 contestants in the Next Great Horror Writer Contest. The included stories, scripts, and poems are the result of the hard work and dedication these fine writers put forth to win a book contract. Some learned they loved writing and want to pursue it as a career for the rest of their lives. Some discovered they should change careers either to a different genre of writing or to a new career entirely. Whatever lessons came along the way, they each learned something about themselves and grew as writers. We hope you enjoy the writing as much as we did.

Just 99 cents at Amazon.com

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A sneak peek inside…

CONSUMPTION

by Jonathan Fortin

Submitted for the 6-minute Audiodrama Challenge, Episode #147

SFX: OFFICE BACKGROUND NOISE—PHONES RINGING, PAPERS SHUFFLING, ETC.

AMY: This is Amy, how can I help you? No, sir, this isn't the phone number you want for that. You want—I'm sorry, sir, I know it's very frustrating. I want to help you, but the phone number you want is—Okay, fine, hang up.

DORI: Another irate customer?

AMY: Yeah, nothing but angry people all day. Is it always like this, Dori?

DORI: Not always. Don't worry. You'll get used to it. You'll be part of the team sooner than you think!

SFX: PHONE RINGS.

AMY: Orntech, this is Amy, how can I help you?

SFX: STATIC HUMMING FROM THE PHONE, FOLLOWED BY A STRANGE GROWLING NOISE.

AMY: Hello? Anyone there?

VOICE ON PHONE: We can smell you.

AMY: What?

SFX: CLICK. LINE GOES DEAD.

DORI: Are you all right?

AMY: (NERVOUS) Fine...I'm fine.

SFX: OFFICE NOISE FADES OUT TO SILENCE. FADE IN FOOTSTEPS IN AN EMPTY STREET.

AMY: (MUTTERING TO HERSELF) No need to get worked up, Amy. It was just a weird phone call. Aaaand now, of course, I'm in a deserted street, but no need to get worked up about that either. You always walk home this way. You've never been mugged before and you probably won't be now.

SFX: CELL PHONE VIBRATES.

AMY: Yeah, not going to answer that.

SFX: PHONE VIBRATES.

AMY: I really hope this isn't an important call from work though…

SFX: PHONE VIBRATES.

AMY: Ugh, fine! Hello?

SFX: STATIC HUM. THEN A CREEPY CLICKING, THROBBING, WRIGGLING NOISE IS HEARD, FOLLOWED BY THE SAME DISTORTED GROWL AS BEFORE.

VOICE ON PHONE: We can hear you.

AMY: (NERVOUS) Who is this?

SFX: LINE GOES DEAD. RUNNING FOOTSTEPS ECHO ON ASPHALT.

AMY: (PANTS AS SHE RUNS)

SFX: DOOR SLAMS.

AMY: (BREATHES HEAVILY IN RELIEF, HAVING JUST GOTTEN HOME)

BLAKE: Honey, are you all right?

AMY: I don't want to talk about it…To read more, click here.

Author: Jonathan Fortin was named the Next Great Horror Writer by HorrorAddicts.net, and is a graduate of the Clarion Writing Program. His novel, Lilitu: The Memoirs of a Succubus, is a forthcoming release from Crystal Lake Publishing. You can follow him online at jonathanfortin.com and on twitter @Jonathan_Fortin.

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HorrorAddicts.net

for Horror Addicts, by Horror Addicts

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