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Archive for the ‘Short stories and collections’ Category

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #22 ~ The 12 Terrors Of Christmas

Posted: October 22, 2019 in horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: Horror, review, Short Stories

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2019! I did this the last couple of years and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

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The 12 Terrors Of Christmas

by Claudette Melanson

Genre: Horror / Short Story Collection

My Review

I’m not going to go into what this book is about. The detailed blurb tells you that.

I loved the cover. It was one of the reasons I grabbed the book. Santa doesn’t look so jolly, does he? LOL

And the title. It’s perfect for the stories inside.

The stories. Well. They sure aren’t comfy Christmas stories to read by the fire. They’re better suited for some creepy campfire tales. Santa sure isn’t the one I recall from my childhood. The elves aren’t the cute ones from the animated shows I recall. And the reindeer would probably eat Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer.

I was telling my son about each of these stories and we had fun trying to come up with a new version of the song The Twelve Days Of Christmas.

These were so much fun. So creepy. Some, so dark. Filled with ghouls, werewolves, vampires and more. The author sure got creative with them. And each story was just as good as the other. If you like horror and want something different for your holiday list, check these out.

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Synopsis

Award-winning author Claudette Melanson offers eleven new and original stories to make your skin crawl at any time of the year. This horror anthology also includes an original short by Amazon International Best-Selling Author, Lynn Lamb, titled Bring Me Flesh and Bring Me Wine. A special bonus story is also included by Melanson, Mislead, previously published only on the Halloweenpalooza blog. Grab a cup of cocoa and make sure the windows and doors are locked tight as you settle in by the fire to enjoy these tales of terror, but be warned…locks have never been succeeded at keeping Santa from gaining entry. If you enjoy a slice of horror with your holiday cheer, this collection of Christmas horror shorts will satisfy all your dark cravings during the holidays…and beyond.

Terror One: Who is Santa really? Does something sinister lurk beneath the red suit and apple-cheeked visage? More importantly, what does Santa want for Christmas?
Terror Two: It is said that every wish bears a cost…even a wish of good intent. What do Detective Talbot and his son, Mallory, stand to lose when the pair seek to right a wrong on Christmas Eve?
Terror Three: Christmas can be a time for great joy…but also for heart-wrenching regret. Can the magic of Christmas Eve turn back the clock before time runs out for Morana and her family?
Terror Four: Snow falls white and clean, seeming to purify the small town of Moon, Pennsylvania, but the woods behind Vaughn’s home have taken on a sinister cast. The snow keeps falling in record-breaking depths, but does evil lay hidden beneath its seemingly-innocent luster?
Terror Five: As his elves scurry to fill the toy orders for the busy season, unknown terror creeps toward the workshop intent on releasing an evil meant to cancel Santa’s yearly deliveries forever.
Terror Six: A well-meaning elf casts a spell which could inadvertently reveal the dark truth about Santa’s workshop and its inhabitants. The world’s children may end up paying a terrifying price, proving that the path of good intention oftentimes does indeed lead to hell.
Terror Seven: A scary twist on a classic Christmas poem
Terror Eight: Santa’s sleigh plummets to the ground, tearing all hope of a merry Christmas to bits and pieces. Will the elves be able to employ enough magic to stitch together some sort of solution? Or will their efforts only deliver greater horror and loss?
Terror Nine: Trinette is preparing to celebrate her first Christmas in love. Her boyfriend says he found the perfect gift for her but beneath the shiny red paper and ribbon lies a secret he’s kept hidden during all the months of their courtship…
Terror Ten: The world’s population explosion means business is booming at Santa’s workshop, with the need to expand making a difficult excavation below the permafrost necessary. But the elves should use caution lest they dig up an evil best left buried.
Terror Eleven: A special holiday treat for Maura DeLuca fans! Riptide ended on a happy note, but how did Maura’s extended family celebrate Christmas? Could it be that the holiday didn’t quite play out the way the vampires planned?
Terror Twelve: It’s a dangerous time to call oneself a non-believer. Those who scoff at Santa’s existence are melting all over the world. But could the benevolent head elf turn out to be the murderer?

Vampires, ghosts, demons, elves, werewolves, serial killers and a rampaging Krampus are just a few of the monsters creeping amongst the pages of The 12 Terrors of Christmas. Are you brave enough to venture inside to experience the flip side of the typical Hallmark-themed Christmas?

Amazon / B&N

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #13 ~ The Town That Feared Dusk

Posted: October 13, 2019 in horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: Horror, review, Short story

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

~~~~~

The Town That Feared Dusk

by Calvin Demmer

Genre: Horror / Short Story

My Review

I very much enjoyed Demmer’s, The Sea Was A fair Master. I don’t usually like every short story in a collection, but I did with those. I prepared myself for another quick punch to the gut, and got it.

Sylvia dreams of that one big story. The one that could make her as a journalist. Browsing through some old files, she comes across one her former colleague had started putting together. It struck her as peculiar that no red flags were raised in a small town where thirty-six people jumped to their deaths in a ten year period. It was worth a drive out there to investigate Suicide Bridge. The more she pursued the story, the weirder it became and it was already too late when she realized her hunger for fame put her in the wrong place at the wrong time.

It’s always fun when I think I know which direction the story is going and the author takes it another way. And a scene near the end of the story reminded me of another book I’d read some time ago. I wish I could recall that title as I still think about it now and then. I still picture it in my head. The Town That Feared Dusk was a quick trip to the dark side and I think it would be even more fun as a full length book.

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Synopsis

Sylvia Bernstein doesn’t want to end up on a dead-end path like a former journalism colleague. She begins searching the tabloid’s archives for a story that can get her career back on track. A strange bridge, with an abnormally high rate of suicides, seems like the perfect place to start. She journeys to the little town, eager to investigate, but encounters a tale far more sinister than she ever expected…

Amazon

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Click on the covers for more Thrills And Chills reviews.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Saturday Screams #66 ~ One Star

Posted: August 31, 2019 in horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: Horror, review, Short story

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I have a twisted nibble of a read for ya!

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After reading my review and checking out the synopsis, you might want to give this a go. It’s FREE on Amazon. Waiting for you! Click on the cover to get your copy.

One Star

by The Behrg

Genre: Horror / Short Story

My Review

I started reviewing books many years ago. A friend encouraged me to start a blog. I never looked back. When I spotted this book on a friend’s blog, I was intrigued. Anyone who writes reviews knows what a one star rating is like to write. I haven’t written one in a long time. Probably because I do more research before choosing to read a book now.

When I read the description I knew I had to read this. A blogger posts a one star review on their blog. Something horrible comes of that review. The author takes it personal.

I remember one of the first one star reviews I wrote. It was for a review book I accepted from an author. I contacted the author to let them know what my rating would be. They argued with me in several emails, saying I didn’t get what they wrote. I did, though. I explained why I gave it the rating I did but they continued to argue with me. So, that review wasn’t posted. I knew the emails would continue and I couldn’t win with the author. I’m tougher now and wish I’d published that review. It was an honest one and wasn’t mean. I just didn’t want the hassle of dealing with an author that couldn’t accept my rating.

I thought I knew what I was getting when I started reading this short story. Not what I got, for sure. In a good way though. I felt unsettled from the get go. Knew something was off. Thought I knew what that was. Boy, was I wrong. The Behrg socked it to me. What a twisted bit of fun.

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Synopsis

Every action has a consequence. But when Li posts a one-star review of a novel on her book blog, the results are far more frightening than she could ever have imagined.

Not every story was meant to have a happy ending.

ONE STAR is a previously unpublished horror short story, being released in The Behrg’s upcoming short story collection–“The Passengers You Cannot See.” It is the author’s love letter to book bloggers and reviewers, and thus is being offered as a free download to any book reviewer in part to thank all those who have been a part of the author’s journey. And if you haven’t yet been a part, there’s no better time than now to jump in that car and ride along. Oh, the vistas you will see.

Amazon

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Mysteries and Strange Events by Drew Jones ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Posted: June 5, 2019 in giveaways, Mystery, Short stories and collections
Tags: giveaway, mysery, Short Stories

Mysteries and Strange Events – Nine Short Stories

by Drew Jones

Genre: Mystery

Mysteries and Strange Events Volume One brings together an evocative debut
collection of nine short stories from the author Drew Jones. They are
fantastically wide ranging in subject, and includes Jaguar cars,
railway accidents, strange salvage operations, commercial espionage,
greed, science fiction and ghosts – and every reader will find a
favourite within the book. They will all make him stop, think, and
question. This amazing mix is completed with some light humour as the
flamboyant sleuth – Mr Theodore Halfpenny, makes his first appearance.

This irresistible book will be your perfect companion as you commute to
work, struggle through a long haul flight, or just to keep at the
side of the bed after a long day.

Goodreads * Amazon

My name is Drew Jones and enjoy writing about mysterious and strange
events. Some of my ideas are derived from my interest in classic
cars, military airfields and the paranormal. I normally write in my
study in Wales with my Labrador dog Monty at my feet, and many ideas
and plots are thought through on our walks together in the woods.
There are lots of ideas buzzing in my head, many involving our sleuth
Theodore Halfpenny, who will appear in Mysterious and Strange Events
Volume 2 – which I hope to start work on soon!

I have really had fun putting this collection together – so I hope
you have enjoyed them too. Perhaps you have read them on your
commute to work, on a plane as you travel towards your holiday, or as
a quick read at the end of a long day.

As with all authors, I would be grateful if you would leave a review on
Amazon – it only takes a second, and is always much appreciated.

It would be very nice to hear from all my readers, so if you would like
to contact me personally, please email at:
Andrewjones888@btinternet.com

Follow on Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive content and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

That Which Grows Wild ~ Review and Giveaway

Posted: February 22, 2019 in Dark Fantasy, giveaways, horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: dark fantasy, giveaway, Horror, review, Short Stories

That Which Grows Wild

by Eric J. Guignard

Genre: Dark Fantasy, Short Stories

That Which Grows Wild collects sixteen dark and masterful short stories by
award-winning author Eric J. Guignard. Equal parts whimsy and weird,
horror and heartbreak, this debut collection traverses the darker
side of the fantastic through vibrant and harrowing tales that depict
monsters and regrets, hope and atonement, and the oddly changing
reflection that turns back at you in the mirror.

Discover why Eric J. Guignard has earned praise from masters of the craft such
as Ramsey Campbell (“Guignard gives voice to paranoid vision that’s
all too believable.”), Rick Hautala (“No other young horror
author is better, I think, than Eric J. Guignard.”), and Nancy
Holder ( “The defining new voice of horror has arrived, and I stand
in awe.”)

Stories include:

• “A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love” – a
teen experiences romance, while the world slowly dies from rising
temperatures and increasing cases of spontaneous combustion.

• “Dreams of a Little Suicide” – a down-on-his-luck actor unexpectedly finds
his dreams and love in Hollywood playing a munchkin during filming of
The Wizard of Oz, but soon those dreams begin to darken.

• “The Inveterate Establishment of Daddano & Co.” – an aged undertaker
tells the true story behind the Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, and
of the grime that accumulates beneath our floors.

• “A Journey of Great Waves” – a Japanese girl encounters, years later,
the ocean-borne debris of her tsunami-ravaged homeland, and the
ghosts that come with it.

• “The House of the Rising Sun, Forever” – a tragic voice gives dire
warning against the cycle of opium addiction from which, even after
death, there is no escape.

• “Last Days of the Gunslinger, John Amos” – a gunfighter keeps a decimated
town’s surviving children safe on a mountaintop from the incursion
of ferocious creatures… until a flash flood strikes.

Explore within, and discover a wild range upon which grows the dark, the
strange, and the profound.

Add to Goodreads

Amazon * B&N * Kobo

My Review

I usually find that when reading a collection of short stories, some of them are great, some are okay and some miss the mark. I was thrilled to find that I was happy with all sixteen tales in That Which Grows Wild.

The book begins with A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love. I’m a huge fan of dystopian and apocalyptic tales and this one adds human combustion to the mix. The fact that the author made it seem like something that could actually occur was like sprinkles on an ice cream cone. Tasty.

From there I went on to devour the book. I was expecting to need a break somewhere. For my interest to taper off. But, no. I kept right on to the end, encountering tormented beings, creatures big and small, aliens and ordinary people facing difficult and fantastical situations. But that wasn’t all I found. There were some deeply moving scenes and some characters I wanted to tuck under my wing and keep safe from harm.

I was going to list my favorites but I found myself adding another and then another. The writing is powerful and the stories intoxicating. Eric is a storyteller in the true sense of the word.

Eric J. Guignard is a writer and editor of dark and speculative fiction,
operating from the shadowy outskirts of Los Angeles. He’s won the
Bram Stoker Award, been a finalist for the International Thriller
Writers Award, and a multi-nominee of the Pushcart Prize. His stories
and non-fiction have appeared in over one hundred genre and literary
publications such as “Nightmare Magazine,” “Black Static,” “Shock Totem,”

“Buzzy Magazine,” and “Dark Discoveries Magazine.” Outside the glamorous

and jet-setting world of indie fiction, Eric’s a technical writer and
college professor, and he stumbles home each day to a wife, children,
cats, and a terrarium filled with mischievous beetles.

Website * Facebook * Facebook Page * Twitter * Amazon * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Saturday Screams #61 ~ That Which Grows Wild

Posted: February 2, 2019 in Dark Fantasy, horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: dark fantasy, Horror, review, Short Stories

Welcome to my Saturday Screams where I share books that thrill and chill!

Today I’m sharing That Which Grows Wild, a collection of short stories by Eric J. Guignard. There’s a lot to offer in these pages, including some dark fantasy, horror and the bizarre.

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That Which Grows Wild

by Eric J. Guignard

Genre: Dark Fantasy / Horror / Short Stories

My Review

I was going to list my favorites but I found myself adding another and then another. The writing is powerful and the stories intoxicating. Eric is a storyteller in the true sense of the word.

~~~~~

Synopsis

That Which Grows Wild collects sixteen dark and masterful short stories by award-winning author Eric J. Guignard. Equal parts whimsy and weird, horror and heartbreak, this debut collection traverses the darker side of the fantastic through vibrant and harrowing tales that depict monsters and regrets, hope and atonement, and the oddly changing reflection that turns back at you in the mirror.

Discover why, after only several years, Eric J. Guignard has developed an ardent following and earned praise by masters of the craft such as Ramsey Campbell (“Guignard gives voice to paranoid vision that’s all too believable.”) and Rick Hautala (“No other young horror author is better, I think, than Eric J. Guignard.”)

Table of Contents includes:

A Case Study in Natural Selection and How It Applies to Love
Last Days of the Gunslinger, John Amos
Momma
Footprints Fading in the Desert
The House of the Rising Sun, Forever
The Inveterate Establishment of Daddano & Co.
Last Night…
Those Who Watch From On High
Vancouver Fog
A Curse and a Kiss
Whispers of the Earth
A Serving of Nomu Sashimi
Certain Sights of an Afflicted Woman
A Journey of Great Waves
A Quaint Ol’ Bigfoot Tale
Dreams of a Little Suicide

Amazon / B&N / Kobo

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

The Friday 56 #195 ~ That Which Grows Wild

Posted: December 28, 2018 in Short stories and collections, The Friday 56
Tags: dark fiction, Short Stories, The Friday 56

Welcome to The Friday 56 hosted by Freda’s Voice.

This is a really fun meme!

The only rules are to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader and find a sentence or a few (no spoilers) that grabs you and post it.

Then go over to Freda’s Voice and leave your link so we can visit your 56!

My 56 for this week is from:

That Which Grows Wild

16 Tales Of Dark Fiction

by Eric J. Guignard

Genre: Dark Fiction

From page 56 in the paperback.

Daniel turned, alone, to see the purple-striped blooms of water hemlock growing next to its look-alike kin, the parsnip plant.

One was harmless, if not edible, and the other a slow death. In appearance the two were nearly identical, and he thought she wouldn’t notice the difference now….

This excerpt is from Momma, one of 16 tales of dark fiction. Its strange and has a brooding atmosphere.

~~~~~

Synopsis

That Which Grows Wild collects sixteen dark and masterful short stories by award-winning author Eric J. Guignard. Equal parts whimsy and weird, horror and heartbreak, this debut collection traverses the darker side of the fantastic through vibrant and harrowing tales that depict monsters and regrets, hope and atonement, and the oddly changing reflection that turns back at you in the mirror.

Table of Contents includes:

Amazon / B&N

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Leave your link and I’ll drop by your 56.

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

You can find a list of my reviews HERE.

For a list of free eBooks go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

When The Night Comes Out ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Posted: November 2, 2018 in giveaways, horror, Short stories and collections
Tags: giveaway, Horror, Short Stories

When the Night Comes Out

by Bryan Alaspa

Genre: Horror, Short Stories

What happens when the night comes out? When the darkness comes in from the
sides and closes in all around, what lurks within?

BONUS: Foreward by Patrick C. Greene, author of Progeny and The Crimson
Calling

An elevator in a high-rise building becomes a gateway for terror and madness

A German U-Boat during World War I becomes a haunted nightmare

A radio signal in the middle of the night reveals the horrors lurking
beneath a simple, small, peaceful town.

A little girl with a best friend you would NOT want to cross finds
herself in mortal danger.

And a couple moving into a new house discovers an old abandoned well that
may have no bottom, or it may just be a portal into Hell itself.

These are tales of unrelenting horror and terror from the mind of Bryan W.
Alaspa, author of RIG, Sapphire, Storyland, S.P.I.D.A.R. and other
tales of horror, terror and suspense. Five stories that will make you
wonder what lurks – when the night comes out.

Goodreads * Amazon

Bryan W. Alaspa is a Chicago born and bred author of both fiction and
non-fiction works. He has been writing since he sat down at his
mother’s electric typewriter back in the third grade and pounded out
his first three-page short story. He spent time studying journalism
and other forms of writing. He turned to writing as his full-time
career in 2006 when he began writing freelance, online and began
writing novels and books.

He is the author of over 30 books of both fiction and non-fiction

and numerous short stories and articles.

Mr. Alaspa writes true crime, history, horror,
thrillers, mysteries, detective stories and tales about the
supernatural.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Goodreads

Follow the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

Wicked Harvest ~ Michigan Monsters & Macabre

Posted: October 31, 2018 in giveaways, horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: giveaway, Horror, review, Short Stories

Why Fall? Why Halloween? Why Michigan? And what does this have to do with these stories and books?

Let’s start with the great state of MICHIGAN. I consider myself lucky to have been born and raised in Michigan; a state I consider to be the absolute best in the country. I was born in Hastings in the early 70s, and then when I was about 18 months old, my mother, sister and I moved to the charming small town of Ionia. My mother was originally from Ionia; in fact, my grandparents owned and operated a locksmith and bicycle business there, started in the 1940s. My child-rearing years were spent living in town, living on a farm and living in a trailer park until I graduated high school. I had a good childhood, a typical childhood where my imagination was able to run wild.

Once I became an adult, I moved around quite a bit; Kalamazoo, Lake Odessa, Grand Blanc, Pewamo, Lansing, Grand Rapids, Middleville and on and on. I’ve had the pleasure of driving all over the state visiting beautiful and wonderful towns like Petoskey, Holly, Munising, Harbor Springs, Mackinac City, Lexington, Flint, Fenton, Port Austin, and Grand Haven to name a few. All of these towns have left lasting memories, thoughts and ideas for me because they each offer unique sights, architecture, people and history.

Living in Michigan my whole life not only have I seen some amazing cities, towns, parks and beaches, but I have also heard many of its spooky legends, ghost stories and tales about its many haunted locations. I thought to base a series of spooky stories and books that included actual Michigan locations would be an excellent way for me to pay tribute to the people, places and things. As I said, it is the greatest state in the nation!

Nothing on earth gets my mind, body and soul aroused like the season of FALL. I get excited about the three months of September, October and November more than a person probably should (But I know I’m not alone). I look forward to the fall season every year and have since I was very young. And every year and I get asked, “What is it about fall you love so much?”

First, I call it fall; always have, always will. Some people call it autumn. I guess it depends on who you ask or where they’re from. I love the word autumn, but most people I know say fall. I guess for me, it doesn’t really matter what you call it, what matters is all that comes with it. It’s a laundry list of things that come with the season that gets me excited and makes everything in the world seem…right.

It’s the chill in the air and the crisp clean cool breeze, wearing warm cozy sweatshirts or my favorite flannel shirts, making s’mores over a bonfire with family and friends, drinking cider and eating donuts from a visit to the local cider mills and orchards, picking out those perfect pumpkins at the pumpkin patch to carve Jack O‟ Lanterns or just place as decorations, driving around taking in the sights of the beautiful colored leaves, drinking hot flavored coffee or hot cocoa on the porch, tasting all of the fall seasonal craft beers and hard ciders, the smell of burning leaves and wood burning in fireplaces, not having to deal with those pesky summer bugs, crock pot slow roast dinners, chili cook-offs, and yes, even the pumpkin spice everything!

To me, there’s no emotion and sensation like what I get and feel during the fall months. Even though I know the dreaded winter will soon follow. Still, I embrace the season for all it’s worth and bask in the pure comfort on how everything about it makes me feel. I could go on, but I’m sure you understand.

Everyone has their favorite holiday. Sure, I love Thanksgiving for the bounty of delectable food and watching the traditional football game. Christmas with the pretty lights, gifts and more delicious foods and even St. Patrick’s Day isn’t too bad with a cold Guinness in hand. But, for me, hands down, the best holiday is HALLOWEEN.

For starters, it’s smack dab in the middle of my favorite fall season. Second, it’s just so much fun, has so much tradition and you get to dress in costume to become anything and anyone you want…even if it’s for just one night. Oh, then third; the candy. Lots and lots of candy!

Yes, even as an adult I like, nope, love the candy.

Granted, I don’t go Trick-or-Treating anymore, but I thoroughly enjoy decorating the house and handing out candy to all the little ones in the neighborhood. And if I have candy left in the bowl at the end of the night…so be it. Halloween is just fun and it can make us all remember what being a kid is all about.

I have enjoyed celebrating Halloween since I was a toddler. I love and appreciate the folklore behind it, the traditions, the parties, and the creatures and costumes. I’ve always admired and respected the classic tales of Dracula, Frankenstein and the myths and legends told by friends and family…especially real-life ghost stories. I look forward every year to watching The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown and movies like Sleepy Hollow, Trick R Treat, Hocus Pocus, Young Frankenstein, Underworld, Zombieland, The Lost Boys and so many others. So bring on the bats, skeletons, black cats, witches, Jack O‟ Lanterns, ghosts, ghouls and goblins, and creatures and monsters of all kinds!

So why this book? Why now?

When I started writing articles and stories years ago, I never envisioned myself as a horror writer or any kind of scary story writer. Then one day in the fall of 2017 I was talking to my wife and kids about scary stories and then immediately got an idea in my head for one. That idea eventually became the Stone Hollow story. Funny enough, written about the very subdivision that I live in.

Once I wrote that first one I got hooked and couldn’t stop writing. The ideas and thoughts were pouring out of my head faster than I could type. I had notepads and pieces of paper strewn everywhere with ideas. I finally created a document called Ideas and it was just that; all kinds of story ideas, characters, partial paragraphs, locations, dialog…everything to keep my thoughts together so I wouldn’t lose them. There’s nothing worse than having a great idea and then forgetting it later.

Once I had a dozen full stories together, I wondered what to do with them. I thought about trying to enter writing contests and submit some to anthology books (which I did a few), but then I thought maybe I would just put them in book form and do things my way. My hope was that people would read them and enjoy them as much as I do.

Heck, I know there are hundreds of horror writers out there and I know my stories may not be made into blockbuster movies, but I’m going to let my imagination run wild and do the best I can. The plan is to make Michigan Monsters & Macabre a series of books; perhaps 5 to 10…if I’m lucky.

…add now it has really got my gears moving and I’m excited not only to write scary stories but to write other short stories and books as well. Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me. I better make a few pots of coffee…it’s going to be a long year!

Wicked Harvest: Michigan Monsters and Macabre

Book One

Jerrod S. Smelker

Genre: Fiction, Horror

Publisher: Last Leaf Publishing

Date of Publication: Sept 24th, 2018

ISBN:1720157022

Number of pages: 193

Word Count: 36,600

Cover Artist: BookDesign

My Review

Being born in Michigan, how could I not try these stories. I’ve always found urban legends fascinating and reading about some centered around cities I’m familiar with was sure to be fun.

There are many stories to savor, from macabre to harrowing. While none of them truly scared me, I pictured a few of these in my mind and wouldn’t want to be in those character’s shoes.

Being brief stories, I liked how they ended. The author introduced his character’s. Set up the why of how they ended up where the were, and then showed how they paid the piper. A few I felt sorry for. Some I felt got what they deserved. And then there were some I thought should have known better. You know those. The ones that go in the basement when they shouldn’t. The one’s that ignore warnings from those who know the skinny. Yep, the ones we call victims.

The author gave me some tasty nibbles and if you like short stories with a few twists, I recommend you take a bite.

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Book Description:

Welcome to the Wicked Harvest: Michigan Monsters and Macabre spooky short stories books.

Inside you will read 10 chilling haunts of encounters with terrifying creatures, cursed fountains, the undead, an abandoned asylum and other creepy and frightening things.

All stories take place in and around Michigan cities and towns and transpire during the delightful season of fall and the greatest holiday of Halloween.

These startling tales are fictional stories of course…or are they?

Amazon

About the Author:

Jerrod S. Smelker is the owner/operator/writer for Last Leaf Publishing, Our Michigan Travels and Wicked Harvest MI. Author of “Vigilant in Today’s World” series of crime prevention books, “Wicked Harvest: Michigan Monsters & Macabre” series of spooky short stories and books and numerous other short stories. He is a proud member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. He grew up in Ionia, a quaint small town smack dab in the middle of Michigan between Grand Rapids and the state’s capital, Lansing. He enjoys history, writing, reading, fine cigars and pipes, craft beers and hard ciders, coffee, and Michigan road trips. He currently lives in Grand Blanc Michigan with his wife, kids and cats.

Website / Blog / Wicked Harvest / Facebook / Amazon

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #30 ~ Short Tales Of Horror

Posted: October 30, 2018 in horror, reviews, Short stories and collections
Tags: 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills, Horror, review, Short Stories

Welcome to My 31 Days Of Thrills And Chills 2018! I did this last year and so excited to do it again. I’ll be sharing reviews and lots of extra spooky stuff every day leading up to Halloween. I hope you’ll join me!

day of the dead photo: Dancing Skeleton dancing_skeleton.gif

I’m sharing all kinds of books, movies, and other spooky stuff for every day in October. Gots to get those scares on for the 31st!

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Short Tales Of Horror III

by Regina Puckett

Genre: Horror / Short Stories

My Review

I’d read another collection Of Regina’s and really enjoyed them so I was quick to grab this one when I came across it.

There are fifteen stories here and I liked every single one. Some were scary. Some were very twisted. And some even made me laugh at their wickedness.

In these pages you’ll come across a possessive ghost with deadly intent, creepy dolls that have a few tricks up their sleeves, homeless people that should be wary of a helping hand, a husband who won’t be raising a hand to his wife again, a hitchhiker with a twist, an inheritance with strings attached, a re-encounter with the possessive spirit, a resentful new father, thirteen black cats who might not add up to a lucky number, how being late for school can have dire consequences, what happens when a miracle diet pill comes with side affects, why imaginary friends can feel all too real, what occurs when an alien spacecraft brings nothing good and what a vampire does when you don’t clean up after yourself.

I’d be hard pressed to choose a favorite. The author penned some creative and curious tales and they were well executed. All of these were either 4 or 5 star reads. I devoured them in one sitting and could have read more. It’s like tiny horror M&Ms. I couldn’t read just one, or two….

If you enjoy horror collections, you’ll certainly enjoy these. I sure did.

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Synopsis

My collection of short stories of ghosts, evil spirtis, werewolves, a few mentally ill people and I’ve even thrown in a few zombies and vampires into the mixture.

I’ve taken your every fear and written a story about it, so they can be examined in the bright light of day. Of course if your prefer, you’re welcome to read them at night too. I’ll leave it up to you to decide whether you want your horror now or later.

Amazon / B&N

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The cover above is from Goodreads.

Here is the one I own.

Which do you prefer?

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

I am an Amazon Affiliate. Product images are linked.

fuonlyknew

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Archive for the ‘Short stories and collections’ Category

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #22 ~ The 12 Terrors Of Christmas

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #13 ~ The Town That Feared Dusk

Saturday Screams #66 ~ One Star

Mysteries and Strange Events by Drew Jones ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

That Which Grows Wild ~ Review and Giveaway

Saturday Screams #61 ~ That Which Grows Wild

The Friday 56 #195 ~ That Which Grows Wild

When The Night Comes Out ~ Spotlight and Giveaway

Wicked Harvest ~ Michigan Monsters & Macabre

31 Days Of Thrills And Chills #30 ~ Short Tales Of Horror