Short Fiction, stories

New Release! Dark Christmas

An updated and quality full-colour paperback of the second edition of my illustrated chapbook and ebook Dark Christmas were released on February 15, 2023. Dark Christmas marks the first in my new chapbook series Quick Bites Chapbooks published under my imprint Quill Lore. These chapbooks are a combination of short stories or microfiction on a… Continue reading New Release! Dark Christmas

reads, Recent Reads

Into the Forest

Publisherโ€™s Description Deep in the dark forest, in a cottage that spins on birds' legs behind a fence topped with human skulls, lives the Baba Yaga. A guardian of the water of life, she lives with her sisters and takes to the skies in a giant mortar and pestle, creating tempests as she goes. Those… Continue reading Into the Forest

reads, Recent Reads

Sallow Bend

Publisherโ€™s Description Something old and deadly has awoken. When two teenagers go missing from the small, rural town of Sallow Bend, the residents come together to search for them. Little do they suspect that finding the wayward girls will be the start of their problems. An old evil is rising, and only one man seems… Continue reading Sallow Bend

research, Writing

The Banshee

A Banshee is a fairy in Irish legend and her scream is believed to be an omen of death. The scream is also called โ€˜caoineโ€™ which means โ€˜keeningโ€™ and is a warning that there will be an imminent death in the family. As the Irish families blended over time, it is said that each family… Continue reading The Banshee

research, Writing

Mirror Folklore

In folklore, a mirror is a doorway or portal through which spirits, including ghosts and demons can gain access to the physical world where demonic infestations and hauntings occur. In prehistory, any shiny surface was regarded as a spirit doorway and used to summon spirits into the world. They also are used for seeing visions… Continue reading Mirror Folklore

research, Writing

Dullahan

The Dullahan is a headless rider on a black horse carrying carries his own head under one arm. Usually, the Dullahan is male, but there are some female versions. The mouth of the head has a rictus grin and the eyes move constantly. The Dullahan also has the power to see across the countryside even… Continue reading Dullahan

reads, Recent Reads

Revival

Publisherโ€™s Description In a small New England town, in the early 60s, a shadow falls over a small boy playing with his toy soldiers. Jamie Morton looks up to see a striking man, the new minister, Charles Jacobs. Soon they forge a deep bond, based on their fascination with simple experiments in electricity. Decades later,… Continue reading Revival

research, Writing

Scottish Kelpie

In Scotland, a kelpie is a shape-shifting water spirit living in lakes and pools. Theyโ€™re defined as demons appearing specifically in the shape of horses. However, some legends say they can also assume human form. In human form, the kelpie still retains its hooves. Thus, the kelpie is seen as a malevolent entity. Almost every… Continue reading Scottish Kelpie

reads, Recent Reads

Damnation Games

*** I received an ARC in return for an honest review *** Publisherโ€™s Description Alan Baxter, editor of Damnation Games, believes horror is the genre of honesty. โ€˜With horror, thereโ€™s no shying away from brutal reality to supply a happy ending. Even when the evil is overcome, it seldom happens without cost. Survivors are rarely… Continue reading Damnation Games

reads, Recent Reads

The Bloody Chamber

Publisherโ€™s Description From familiar fairy tales and legends โ€“ Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots, Beauty and the Beast, vampires and werewolves โ€“ Angela Carter has created an absorbing collection of dark, sensual, fantastic stories. Review I read the classic The Bloody Chamber and Other Tales by UK author Angela Carter as part of… Continue reading The Bloody Chamber