October Frights Day 5: Dark Poetry Corner

Today it is time for my annual dark poetry corner, and I have three offerings for you today. I'm stepping away from witches today into the macabre magic of the undead and the Fae. Enjoy.

Bleed Me to Life

 

Immortality

written within the tomb

Saddened fatality

beneath the moon

Who am I,

to stalk the shadows?

Who am I,

but a corpse

 

Blood through the veins

Substance to hunger

You are Life

I am Death

You always crave

what you cannot have

 

A momentary glimpse;

the warmth of breath

against decaying skin

when I hold you, mesmerized

Your lifeblood stolen

to feed my eternity

 

It is not enough,

our flirting dance,

your poignant demise

Even though you've given

me this façade of life,

prolonged my existence

I long to join you

in life or death

Not this forever in-between

 

 

As the Shadows Dance

 

As the shadows dance

under the moon,

against shafts of light

reflecting fire,

the whispering wind

murmurs the names

of the wandering Fae

 

Among the trees, they move,

one with the night,

sapphire eyes searching

for the ghosts lingering

on the edge of forever

 

Left there long ago

by careless words

and broken hearts

Suspended souls, waiting

for broken Fae promises

to be kept

 

Now it is time

for the reaping

Now it is time

for the payment come due

 

The night wails

for the lost souls,

The night mourns

as the Fae collect

And the wind howls;

the last sound of

human trust

Breathless and Chilled

 

In the shadow of the frost,

a last whisper past the twilight,

there creeps a sigh

and a glimmer of the moon

 

Once he held a rose,

the warmth around his heart,

now he sees only ghosts

in the barren, solitary tomb

underneath the ice

 

Winter blows,

down the long road

Winter settles,

in the truth

And her voice echoes,

in his lies

Here's a free book for you

Visions and Nightmares

And don’t forget our group giveaway with 23 great books available.

Ends October 31st.

 Check the books out here.

The October Frights Giveaway

And I have another great giveaway!

C.L. Cannon’s Myths & Legends Reader Giveaway

And be sure to continue on with the rest of our hoppers to see what they’re up to. 

Night to Dawn Magazine & Books LLC

Hawk's Happenings

Heidi Angell

Curiosities

James McDonald

Always Another Chapter

Spreading the Writer's Word

Yours in Storytelling

Carmilla Voiez

Hello Romance

GirlZombieAuthors

Frighten Me

M'habla's!

Angela Yuriko Smith

Brain Matter

NLCARTERWRITES.COM

October Frights Day 3: Drabble Time with Witches

 

Today is drabble day and I'm serving up three stories of dark witches. Enjoy.

Curse

“The cursed are mine, only fodder for the worms.” 

I shivered, trying to bury the sounds in my pillow. I knew it would do no good.

“Tonight you die.”

I leapt out of bed, unable to stand it. I looked out the window, knowing what I would see. She stood at the edge of the forest. Long ragged hair, shrouded in rags and blue light, her black eyes staring into my soul.

“I will come for you under the twice cursed moon.”

I looked up to see the moon. I heard her laugh and felt a hand on my shoulder.

Lady of Ravens

“Does the Lady of Ravens really walk the forest?”

“Indeed, she does, little one. Best stay away from the woods.” My grandmother ruffled my hair, and I smiled, but didn’t listen. I went into the forest.

“Where are you, Lady of Ravens?”

“Right here.” A dark figure materialized from the air and trees, her clawed hand grabbing my arm, her mouth open to devour me. I screamed, “No, please, don’t kill me!”

“Too late. Unless you trade the one you love the most. Will you trade?”

I nodded. Laughing, she let go. 

I ran home to find my grandmother missing.

Caged

“Do you like my little bird?” 

The peculiar woman smiled at Arthur; all taffeta and lace ruffles, holding a small gilt birdcage. The creature tweeted at him; a sad little sound.

“Your pet doesn’t seem happy.”

“No, I don’t think he is. Will you set him free?”

Her voice hypnotized Arthur, and he reached out, fumbling with the latch. The bird flew at him in a flurry of wings and claws. Arthur gasped, pain searing through his body, and he passed out. As he regained consciousness, he looked out through gilt bars at a dead man lying on the cobblestones.

Get your free book.

Download Visions and Nightmares from Amazon

And don’t forget our group giveaway with 23 great books available.

Ends October 31st.

 Check the books out here.

The October Frights Giveaway

And be sure to continue on with the rest of our hoppers to see what they’re up to. 

Night to Dawn Magazine & Books LLC

Hawk's Happenings

Heidi Angell

Curiosities

James McDonald

Always Another Chapter

Spreading the Writer's Word

Yours in Storytelling

Carmilla Voiez

Hello Romance

GirlZombieAuthors

Frighten Me

M'habla's!

Angela Yuriko Smith

Brain Matter

NLCARTERWRITES.COM

Book Spotlight: A Fistful of Frost

Today on the blog I have a book spotlight for the new release, urban fantasy,  A Fistful of Frost by Rebecca Chastain. The book is currently on pre-order and will be release May 8th (plus there is with a Gift with Purchase promotion: anyone who pre-orders of A Fistful of Frost can receive the novelette A Fistful of Flirtation for free).  Enjoy.

A Fistful of Frost by Rebecca Chastain

Madison’s job—and her soul—are on thin ice.

Madison Fox is determined to reform Jamie, her half-evil pooka, but the bond linking her to Jamie works both ways. Already, it has manipulated her into bending the rules. If she continues down this path, she could doom her soul. Since her judgment can’t be trusted, a high-ranking inspector now dictates Madison’s every interaction with Jamie, and each directive drives them further apart.

Unfortunately, Madison has bigger issues than the potential degradation of her soul. Winter has struck with a vengeance. Frost moths plague the entire state, reinforcing the artificially frigid temperature. Worse, cold-blooded, soul-stealing enemies are flocking into her region from the north—creatures Madison has little defense against.

With the inspector scrutinizing her every misstep, Madison is in for the battle of her life. If she hopes to survive, she must make an impossible choice: save herself and her region or save Jamie.

A Fistful of Frost is available at:

Amazon CA

Amazon US

Amazon UK

Giveaway: The author is running a Gift with Purchase promotion for the pre-order—everyone who pre-orders A Fistful of Frost can receive the novelette A Fistful of Flirtation for free. This giveaway will be live from now until May 8. The details can be found here: https://www.rebeccachastain.com/current-giveaways/

About the Author

Rebecca Chastain is the USA Today bestselling author of the Madison Fox urban fantasy series and the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles fantasy trilogy, among other works. Inside her novels, you’ll find spellbinding adventures packed with supernatural creatures, thrilling action, heartwarming characters (human and otherwise), and more than a little humor. Rebecca lives in Northern California with her charming husband and two bossy cats.

Website

Welcome to the B2BCYCON and Midnight Thrills, Midnight Chills

Welcome to the Horror/Thriller Website Tour
Brain to Books Cyber Convention and Book Expo

B2BCYCON 2018 Midnight Thrills, Midnight Chills

I'm taking part in the convention this year with my horror poetry book, Horror Haiku Pas de Deux.

Ravens, black as night

Her friends, comfort as she walks

Revenge is endless

Silence has fallen

grey ash rains from the skies

after the world’s end

Horror Haiku Pas de Deux

In the shadows—voices.

Calling, screaming, moaning.

Countless tongues telling tales...

of Hell

of Monsters

and Unnatural Things

Come chase the dark words, fall into the spell of terror and sit with the poetic weaver as you watch the world burn. Horror Haiku Pas de Deux is a volume of poetry mixing horror with haiku and verse to chill your bones.

Poetic beauty lives forever with the undead.

Available Now

And you can download my first horror poetry book Horror Haiku and Other Poems or the two book box set of my Killers and Demons series free from the B2BCyCon 2018 Horror/Thriller Giveaway

Check out the Giveaway!

And you can also check out some of my other events:

B2BCYCON Trade Show Booth

Daisy Chain Story

Book Expo

Character Tournaments (Go Vote!)

Cover Wars (Go Vote!)

Video Panel Discussion
(Gender Roles in the Horror and Thriller Genres)





Here's a little Video Book Interview I did with myself.

And here is the entire lineup of the Horror/Thriller Website Tour Authors.
Some of the links will not go live until April 6th.

A. F. Stewart
K. Matt
Carmilla Voiez
Naching Kassa
KM Pohlkamp
Alice de Sampaio Kalkuhl
Brenda Mohamed
Susanne Leist
Tiffany Apan
C. Bilic

Halloween Week: The Dark Poetry Corner

Welcome to Day Three of my Halloween Week!

Today I present my Dark Poetry Corner...

(Plus a great giveaway!)

Seraphim Woods

Beyond the dark, in the faraway worlds,

past the wispy zephyrs of a lost horizon

the whippoorwill calls, and the raven sings

of death and pain, and the shadows sharp

Keep to the path, don’t stray a step

Don’t walk alone in Seraphim Woods

Beyond the twilight, in the murky mists

moonlight nocturnal will waltz with the dead

while ancient rhymes disturb mortal sanity

and lullabies croon to forgotten beasts

Keep to the path, don’t stray a step

Don’t walk alone in Seraphim Woods.

Beyond the realms, where the ravening dwell,

where the footsteps crackle on the empty wind

and the trees shiver as strange creatures pass,

their muted voices whispering secret names

Keep to the path, don’t stray a step

Don’t walk alone in Seraphim Woods.

© A. F. Stewart 2017 All Rights Reserved

Ashen

Path of stones, pale bones

to carry them down

Hear the wild wind howl

The crow caws, give pause

Shadows shift around

Hear the wild wind howl

Wolf in white, need bite

savagery unbound

Hear the wild wind howl

A scream lost, in frost

countless echoes sound

Hear the wild wind howl

None to save, buried grave

The dead, in the ground

Hear the wild wind howl

  

From Colours of Poetry

© A. F. Stewart 

All Rights Reserved 

🎃

And now for the Instafreebie giveaway...

Over 30 Free Books and Stories in this horror giveaway!

Check it all out here!

Halloween Horror Giveaway!

And be sure to return tomorrow for a look at the book Under the Hunter's Moon by Timothy Bateson.

Halloween Week: Interview With Author Kelly Charron

Welcome to Day Two of my Halloween Week!

Today I have a fascinating interview with psychological thriller author Kelly Charron who stops by to chat about her books, serial killers and a touch of horror. And don't forget to check out the Halloween Instafreebie Horror Giveaway featured after the interview. Enjoy!

Interview With Kelly Charron

Why don’t you begin by sharing a little about yourself.

My name is Kelly Charron and I am a thriller and urban fantasy author for teens and adults. I love all things dark and spooky. Halloween is my favorite holiday and it’s pretty difficult to scare me, though I love it! I have worked as a hairstylist and social worker (more similar that you’d think) and currently work as an education assistant with elementary school children.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest book?

I’m currently promoting the second book in my Pretty Wicked Series, WICKED FALLOUT. It is a psychological thriller that follows the main character, a twenty-seven-year-old woman named Ryann Wilkanson, who is in a maximum-security prison for claiming multiple victims when she was just fifteen years old in her attempt to become a serial killer. Wicked Fallout puts you in Ryann’s head once again but also features the point of view of a forensic psychiatrist named Dr. Nancy Clafin, who is given the arduous task of assessing Ryann when new evidence comes to light that may allow Ryann a commuted sentence. 

How long have you been writing, and how many books have you published to date?

I have been writing seriously for about eleven years now I think, though much of the first five years of that was interrupted as I pursued both an English Lit and Social Work degree. I have two novels published and am working hard on the next one, which is the fifth book that I’ll have written. I’d love to write quicker but I have so much going with my day job and a few side jobs that I can find it challenging to get to my laptop.

How did you become interested in writing? 

I’ve always loved stories and would devour them in any form. I thought about writing for years but was so intimidated by the prospect that I kept putting it off, but it was a passion that wouldn’t let go and so I began buying Writer’s Digest Magazines and books on writing. I studied the craft for a few years before finally jumping in. I started with a young adult urban fantasy and did many things wrong, but I learned so much along the way. I was hooked. I try and talk myself out of being a writer all the time since writing and publishing can be such a whirlwind of challenges but it’s such a part of who I am that I won’t ever leave it behind. It centers me and makes me content. When I can’t write for a few days, I start to get irritable and miserable. It’s not even a conscious thing. I have to stop and look at what could be bothering me and it’s almost always that I haven’t had time to write.

What’s your next project? Any upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?

The latest book I’m writing is tentatively titled Blood Knot. It’s another thriller! Blood Knot centers around three women who have been friends since they were young. One of them is engaged and the three spend a night celebrating an intimate bachelorette party at a local pub. They split up, but two of them get a phone call the next morning from the fiancé saying that their friend never made it home. Her purse and keys are found on her front lawn, proof that she made it back, just never inside. It’s far more than a kidnapping story. I don’t want to give away the twists and turns (of which there are many) but there’s quite a bit of drama between the friends left behind. I’m exploring the idea of how well you really know the people in your life, including what they are actually capable of doing under the right, or wrong, circumstances.

Do you have a favorite character? If so, why?

I’d have to say Hannibal Lecter (Sir Anthony Hopkins portrayal only) because he is so charming and charismatic. We loathe him but are fascinated with him and are compelled to see what he does next. He’s complicated and clearly has a past that has informed who he’s become. When you get into his backstory you realize that there’s so much more to him and it becomes much clearer why he’s become the psychopath that he has. The layers of complexity in his backstory leave the audience almost feeling empathy for him and temporarily suspend the fact that he’s a sadistic serial killer who brutalizes people. I also find it interesting that he can keep the mask on for so long that most people who meet him have no idea who he is or what he’s capable of.

Why did you decide to write in the thriller genre? 

I have always loved to be afraid, even as a little kid. My interests have always tended to sway toward the darker side of things whether it be novels, TV, or films. The adrenaline rush and anticipation that comes with thrillers and horror have always be so fun to me and I wanted to create something where I could embark that same sense of enjoyable dread onto others LOL. I enjoy creating a mysterious ambiance and setting with dark, complicated characters that are so fascinating you can’t look away, even if you want to. I grew up on Stephen King (TV, Film, and his novels). I craved a safe place to experience that type of fear and suspense and often found it in his work. This is probably why it takes a lot to scare me now (desensitized LOL). However, I’m not a fan of gruesome and graphic for the safe of shock value. I’m not a fan of a lot of mindless horror movies that simply show people being butchered with no actual plot or character development.

What is the hardest part of writing thriller fiction? 

The hardest part for me is making sure my work is as original as possible. I love horror and thriller tropes and think there is always a place for classic elements like the creepy house up on the hill with ravens perched on the rooftop, but I strive to do something that I’ve yet to see. I will often aspire to take something that’s been done before and spin it on its head. There are tons of serial killer books, usually a detective going after a male killer, so in my novel Pretty Wicked, I wrote a peppy, blonde, teenage cheerleader as the serial killer and put the reader in her head instead of in the detectives. 

Did anything surprise you about the process of writing your book?

My research was very surprising. I delved into the crime world, specifically serial killers and child/teenager killers, to learn as much as I could about motivation, execution of crimes, how they were caught, the legal system etc… I want my novels to be as accurate and credible as possible, so it’s important for me to know the realities of a subject before I take it and extrapolate upon it. I was shocked to find so many young people who planned and executed murder. It was quite disturbing. I thought a few here and there, but I was confronted with hundreds of killers from all over the world, under twenty years old, going back in time to the early 1800s. Many of these killers, especially in the past thirty years, were teenage girls, which completely destroyed what I thought I knew about the profile of a killer.

About the Author: 

Kelly Charron is the author of YA and adult horror, psychological thrillers and urban fantasy novels. All with gritty, murderous inclinations and some moderate amounts of humor. She spends far too much time consuming true crime television (and chocolate) while trying to decide if yes, it was the husband, with the wrench, in the library. Kelly has a degree in English Literature as well as a Social Work degree. She has worked as a hairstylist, youth outreach worker and education assistant. She lives with her husband and cat, Moo Moo, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Website: http://kellycharron.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyMCharron

Facebook: https://goo.gl/UNkH3g

Goodreads: https://goo.gl/rf4NlM

🎃

And now for the giveaway...

Over 30 Free Books and Stories in this horror giveaway!

Check it all out here!

Halloween Horror Giveaway!

And be sure to return tomorrow for this year's Halloween Week Dark Poetry Corner.