Steven Rage's Blog, page 10
March 2, 2011
WELCOME to My BLOG. The Grim Reverend Posts his Darkest Imaginings…
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When You Are Shit-Weary of SAFE Fiction ... 'clicky-clicky'
Step Aside, Passion Of The Christ!, March 30, 2010
By A. A. A. (Illinois, U.S.A.) – See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale (Kindle Edition)
"This is a highly imaginative and entertaining story, and it would most certainly make a fascinating, earth shattering film!!! I think that if Pilate: A Brutal Bible Tale was made into a movie (or movies, preferably), we would see Mel Gibson crying, humbled, and worshiping at the feet of the almighty Reverend Steven Rage! Any film makers out there would easily stand to make a fortune working with Reverend Rage and putting his visions on film! This brilliant and inventive book is about good, evil, redemption, punishment, salvation, and the second coming of Christ (with disciples, Herod, and of course Pilate) set in modern times. Reverend Steven Rage's gripping portrayal of good and evil forces the reader to see both sides with accurate and equal clarity. Unlike most stories based on Christianity, Pilate: A Brutal Bible Tale urges the reader to witness the evils and horrors in our world uncensored. The good Reverend Rage does not down play the evils of today, and he re-enforces the fact that there is no good without evil (and vice-versa) in this thrilling tale. Reading this book is maximum enjoyment from the very first page right on through to the last, and it will definitely make you hungry for more of Reverend Rage's written gold! Pilate: A Brutal Bible Tale is so enthralling from beginning to end, that it's difficult for me to say what I liked best about it, because there is not one single thing that I disliked about it! I think that what really grabbed me was Reverend Rage's description of the Christ and the environment that She was born and raised in. Kudos to Reverend Rage for placing Her exactly where She would be needed the most! Another thing that tickled my fancy about the Christ in this story was that She did not condemn marijuana as a dangerous drug. She agreed with her disciple who said that marijuana is truly a gift from heaven. She, instead, focuses all of Her efforts into curing and saving the poor souls who are killing themselves with their awful and sinful plata addictions. (Plata is yet another creative Reverend Steven Rage invention based upon his actual medical knowledge of how the real dangerous drugs out there today will kill people.) Speaking of Reverend Rage's medical knowledge, I recommend that the readers of my review who are unfamiliar with this author, his writing style, and especially his real life background should search "Reverend Steven Rage" or "Steven Rage" here on amazon.com or even google him. Read his reviews, read his interviews, read his own product descriptions, and again, definitely take the time to learn about his real life background. I, for one, am absolutely amazed that this is Reverend Rage's first book because it's just that good! It's utterly amazing that he put this book out pretty much all on his own AFTER working long, hard hours at his job to pay the bills and support his family. Also, it's amazing that there's no major errors in this whole book! Everything is he writes is medically accurate, by the way. There are very few minor errors like missing and's and the's in this book. (Which did not slow me down or confuse me, incidentally.) I ask any review readers who are put off by a few absent words (Which, again, in my opinion are not vital to the story and not at all difficult to maneuver around.), to imagine how hard it must surely be to publish a book all by yourself while holding down a demanding job to provide for your family. Please respect this genius, hard working author's DIY (do it yourself) status at the time this book was published. Reverend Rage did not have the literary support that authors like Charlaine Harris, Laurell K. Hamilton, and many other best selling authors have, though I believe it's only a matter of time before he has the backing to equal those writers. In fact, I've read books by some of the afore mentioned best selling authors that had plenty of errors in their books, and I've noticed that no one said "boo" about the grammatical errors in their book reviews for these best sellers. I am confident that people will soon stand up and take note of Reverend Rage's innovations, and he will gain the reverence that he deserves! This book, as it stands, is more than worth the humble price that the good Reverend Rage is asking! I hope that you will do your homework on Reverend Steven Rage, and that you will read his all of his books. I know that if you do these things, you will find that he is more than worthy of our support and your research time!"
See what inspires such devotion your own damn self!! 'CLICK' this shit!!
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February 21, 2011
"Disconnect and self-destruct One bullet at a time … Everyone will have His day to Die"
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the sequal to "PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale". Available in PRINT and KINDLE ...
"Oh Ancient and Glorious One I call to thee. From the age before the heaven and the earth were lifted to their places. In the time before time you have reigned," spoke the human male. The room was dark candle-lit and smoky with thick waves of incense. Whispers and sudden muted shrieks were heard from the invisible forces. The gate opened wide. "Before there was light when darkness stained existence," he called out. He unsheathed the dagger and presented it skyward. "You have reigned. Before the Sun and the Moon," he said, "before the holy mother dried and gave forth life, you have reigned." The noises through the spiritual door grew stronger and louder. The dark magic brought forth cold and palpable presence. A stab of raw fear clutched the human's yammering heart. His breath fogged thick in front of him. "I call out to thee, oh Ancient One who threatens from Without. The Lord of Darkness, the Master of Chaos, the Unborn and Most Beloved. Come to me," he called still, "The Dog God, the Dragon God, the Sea Monster, the Master of Magicians. I implore thee. Hear my plea. I pledge to you my life. I give to you my will, oh Mighty One, if only you make your presence known," the father said. He sliced open his muscled chest. Blood dripped onto the male child splayed helpless before him. "I offer up my only son's precious soul. To be your slave, work your will. To do as you please. I give him to you, oh Morning Star, oh Lucifer. Be there blessings to me. I beseech thee, Lord. In return I pledge eternal obedience to you. All the power and all the glory shall be unto thee and so it must be. Until the most holy day when you ascend the Ladder of Lights and ride in triumph through the gates of the Sacred City," he proclaimed loudly. He paused a moment to catch his breath. "I await your command," he continued, "I seek only to serve your whim." He pointed the dagger tip downward and held the sharp blade aloft. He looked down at the babe before him. The room was chilly and full. He could feel unseen creatures slithering around him. They were touching his naked skin and tickling his middle, "A servant or sacrifice!" the bloody, wriggling infant's father called out. He raised the sharpened dagger as high as he could above his son. He held it tight with clenched hands. He waited to plunge it deep in his baby's breast.
"Spare him," a voice behind the human commanded. He lowered the blade, but he dared not turn around. He knew the devil was there right behind him. And although he worshipped the Fallen Angel with all his heart and mind he did not want to face him. The Diabolous stood eight feet tall. He rose up through the portal of the chalked pentagram on the floor and stood before his quaking servant. "He shall be mine."
Tired of 'safe' horror? Look no farther! 'click'!
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February 13, 2011
It takes a sincerely sick, drug-addled, putrified brain to come up with a world-view this demented.
It takes a sincerely sick, drug-addled, putrified brain to come up with a world-view this demented.
This motherfucker right here pretty much says it all …
By "nuff b. ess"
This review is from: The Place In Between (Paperback)
PRINT and KINDLE Editions!
"As a true connoisseur of the horror genre, I must admit I was verily disgusted and appalled by this piece of "Morbid" and I am certain that this was the author's intent. It takes a sincerely sick, drug-addled, putrified brain to come up with a world-view this demented. The "Reverend" must be very proud. If you enjoyed the Infernal trilogy by Edward Lee, then you will probably get off on these tales of another true hell where all rules no longer apply and the most profane things occur. I wish Reverend Rage a massive following so that one day my autographed copy might be worth something on Ebay."
The Most Depraved Writer in Print. Recognize.
PRAISE FOR THE GRIM REVEREND STEVEN RAGE:
Hardcore Horror & Bizarro Collide…, October 30, 2010
By Nick Cato "nickyak" (Staten Island, NY United States) – This review is from: The Place In Between (Paperback)
"The three stories presented here are tied to an apocalyptic underground community known as The Harbor (two take place post, while the title tale goes down before all hell breaks loose).
In 'Blood and Bubblegum,' we're introduced to some seriously strange characters who are involved in an ever-growing organic narcotics trade, including protagonist Juan and a fecal-demon that lives in his rectum. This is by far the weirdest entry here, and features a fresh look at vampirism.
'The Place In Between,' shows that a revenge story can be done in a fresh manner: Del's wife Luci is having an affair with her drug supplier, Sancho. Sancho and Luci eventually manage to get custody of the invalid Del, and Sancho uses this as payback time from their navy days (apparently Del had done something to ruin Sancho's career). The story becomes an extreme torture tale, one that made me wince a few times…but Del manages to turn the tables via a Faust-ish deal with a demon. Rage also gives another fresh spin here on ghosts, making this a perfect blend of hardcore horror and bizarro goodness.
In the final piece, 'Bad Notion, Traveling Potion,' we return to The Harbor and learn more about The Good Doctor (responsible for creating drugs and mutants) and his created servant, the scene-stealing hybrid man/chimp, Tugmunkee. This one was a bit of a chore to follow, but in the end Rage brings it all together. While some people in the bizarro community frown upon stories centered around drug use, this one works as the "tripping" scenes are just a side-note to the real weirdness.
THE PLACE IN BETWEEN is gross, disgusting, funny, horrific, and disturbing, yet at the same time it's quite entertaining. Rage writes with his conscience thrown out the window (that is, if he had one to begin with), yet unlike some more extreme stuff I've read, he actually knows how to WRITE a story around the grue. I'm keeping my eye on this guy as he truly lives up to his last name."
Available in PRINT!
"Like early Tom Piccirilli mixed with Edward Lee. Get on the Rage train while you can because I have a feeling that he'll be getting bigger with each new book". Jordan Krall, author of Fistful of Feet and Squid Pulp Blues.
PRINT and KINDLE Editions!
"You Morbid Westphal is not a book for the faint of heart. But if you're up for some of the hard stuff, you'll dig this". Garrett Cook, author of the Murderland series and Archelon Ranch.
'click' here to get yours! Through the sheer shock of his presentation, Rage forces readers to consider the alternatives, to look at the garbage in the streets, to see what is swept into the gutters at night right before all decent people awake to see another cleaned up version of the day.
"He weaves a world that is painted in black and white hues, where anything can happen (and often does), and is brutally visceral. You Morbid Westphal does for hospitals what Jaws did for beach getaways! Steven Rage is a masterful storyteller". Eric Mays, author of Naked Metamorphosis.
In Print and Kindle ...
"You Morbid Westphal is very highly recommended and a real treat for anyone who enjoys their fiction warped to the breaking point and smeared in blood". Matthew Revert, author of A Million Versions of Right.
the sequal to "PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale". Available in PRINT and KINDLE ...
"Rage has created an incredibly creative and detailed, though disturbing world". Todd Fonseca, author of The Time Cavern.
Available in both PRINT and Kindle Editions!
"Steven Rage has written an enthralling tale". Harriet Klausner, #1 Amazon Reviewer. "
Dark, mad, crazy as a fuckin' bed-bug shit from the Most Depraved Writer in Print. Recognize.
…a certain poetic flow that maintains the sick depravity you expect to see in Rage's work. If I were ever to be reincarnated as another Charlie Manson, I would definitely want Steven Rage in my family…it's like chicken eyeball soup with entrails for your shriveled, rancid soul". Donald Gorman, author of Paradox.
PILATE: A BRUTAL Bible Tale, Undiluted, foul and profane original in KINDLE format! Read PILATE in Print, or on Kindle and on the cheap.
"…experience the entire book, page by page, as Steven Rage intended it – to scare, to upset, and to start and keep you thinking…brace yourself for one WILD ride". Ellen George, Top 1000 Reviewer and author of Thirst.
"BELLY: A Brutal Bible Tale" KINDLE, 2010 -- the sequal to PILATE!
"His unique cadence and elaborate descriptions vividly animates every aspect of his writing". Mary Menzel, from AllTheseBooks.com
Kindle Edition!
"Brutal Bible Tales stay with us long after we've turned the final page". Lila Pinord, author of Min's Monster.
Kindle Edition!
"Steven Rage puts pen to paper and delves into the dark side of humanity. He reaches into the sick and stained recesses of our brain and feeds it, keeping the reader who is in touch with their darker side interested and repulsed. With graphic scenes of violence, illicit drug use, non-consensual extreme sex and torture Rage spits out his view of a twisted world of that is deeply woven with the intricacies of a dark, drug-infested place ruled by evil forces. Rage explores the depths of sin, the way it stains our lives, and graphically illustrates the things we fear most. He forces us to look at true sin, true villainy, and truly offensive images of alternative realities. Rage creates a dismal post-industrial future, a look at man defiled and in decline. Evil has arrived. Dominion has been taken by those who walk as the damned, demons, Halflings, products of debauched rampages and sins against nature. Sex, drugs, and broken souls are the only things of value. Life is more like a disease, and the only salvation is the right amount of Plata to numb the conscience and, if one is lucky, to bring on a cleverly disguised demise. Through the sheer shock of his presentation, Rage forces readers to consider the alternatives, to look at the garbage in the streets, to see what is swept into the gutters at night right before all decent people awake to see another cleaned up version of the day. He uses tradition to break tradition, to push the imagination in ways that are uncomfortable at the least and border on the offensive at worst. Yet, in doing so, he illustrates what real Love is. Rage has created an incredibly detailed and disturbing world of unique, creative, fast paced, brutal, dark, and bizarre novels that are not for the feint of heart."
For Steven Rage's Brutal Bible Tales and Sordid, Twisted little Bizarro Tales go to:
Tired of 'safe' horror? Look no farther! 'click'!
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February 12, 2011
The Grim Reverend Steven Rage Never Shuts Up!!
Cover of PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale
He's the deacon of the diabolical, the clergyman of carnage, the cardinal of chaos. Bizarro-horror writer (and ordained minister) The Grim Reverend Steven Rage joins "The Authors Speak" to chat about his latest book – The Place In Between – just released through LegumeMan Books. Call in and ask the Rage a question . 9/25/2010 9:00 am (Arizona time) 12:00 noon (Eastern) 1 hr.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theauthorsspeakcom/2010/09/25/the-authors-speak-the-reverend-steven-rage
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***Call-in Number: (323) 693-3330***
The Authors Speak Live: Steven Rage (All You Need To Know)
There are very few writers who can thoroughly disgust you and simultaneously stimulate you intellectually. Steven Rage is one of those writers, and with his latest book, "The Place In Between", he's hit his stride. This is his style.
I'm honored to have Rage as our first "live" guest. We've been boasting it all week – the Authors Speak is going live. There are many reasons for this, but the biggest is we really want the authors to speak to you directly. It's one thing to transcribe their words for you. It's one thing to recommend their books. It's one thing to discuss the validity of reading. But, you'd rather hear it directly from their mouths, no?
Tomorrow at 12pm (EST), The Authors Speak launches its weekly interview series. And it's real simple to navigate.
Step One: Follow the link http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theauthorsspeakcom/2010/09/25/the-authors-speak-the-reverend-steven-rage
Step Two: Listen on your computer or your telephone. And, if you have a question, simply call in (323) 693-3330 and ask us.
Step Three: If you're unable to catch it at the time, just podcast the thing and rock n' roll…there it is on your iPod.
So now you know the deal. You're set. Oh, but you want to know more about the guest. Okay.
Steven Rage is the author of 3 books: Pilate: A Brutal Bible Tale, You Morbid Westphal, and The Place In Between. His fiction is horror fiction, but falls into the realm of bizarro. And, his writing is not for the squeamish.
Tomorrow we'll be giving out a copy of Rage's newest book (courtesy of The Authors Speak), so if you're not familiar with him, you soon shall be. For everyone else, here's the Rage Sampler (seen below).
Remember, the Authors Speak because you listen…and tomorrow you shall. Join us at 12pm.If you've read any of Rev.Steven Rage's fiction before, please chime in this Saturday – 9/25 – and share your thoughts with the diabolical deacon. Rev. Steven Rage will join us LIVE at 9am (Arizona time) 12noon (EST) on our new blog talk radio show:
It will be a fun time, to be sure.
An Eric Mays (Host of 'The Authors Speak') review of The Place In Between, by The Grim Reverend Steven Rage
Sick? Absolutely. Genius? Perhaps. Rage? All the way.
We have a certain adoration for Steven Rage at the Authors Speak. He may be one of the sickest, most twisted writers writing today, but there's a mad brilliance to his work. Reading one of his texts is like growing wiser while simultaneously suppressing the urge to vomit. And, there's the funny, too. Rage brings the funny in a big way.
I'm no fan of shorter fiction. I'm not sure why, and I'm not sure why I feel the need to say that everytime I review a collection. I guess I say that because it speaks worlds when I do like a collection. "The Place in Between" is a brilliant collection of some of Rage's best work to date. And, if you're going to do short fiction, at least tie it together. Steven Rage does this flawlessly.
On the surface, the stories in "The Place in Between" are some classic noir pieces that we've heard before. If you've read Rage's previous works, well, you know the man has a few tricks up his sleeves. Rage pulls out all the stops to showcase his twisted reality in which these tales take place. The landscape itself becomes a character of his crazy brain, thus giving these somewhat familiar tales a whole new slant.
"The Place In Between" is the title of the strongest piece in the collection. Imagine a Fasutian tale that were written and directed by John Waters and David Lynch and you start to gather a little of where Steven Rage's mind is. The book feels heavily influenced by both talents – the seedy, dark, weird spliced with the scatological.
Go ahead and order it, folks. But be warned: this book is disgusting. You'll need a strong stomach to handle it. But the reward and payoff is huge. It's not gross for the sake of gross. It's dark fiction at it's finest.
Go ahead and give The Authors Speak LIVE! a listen. Maybe even give us a call and we'll tawk….no big whoop!
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theauthorsspeakcom/2010/09/25/the-authors-speak-the-reverend-steven-rage
'click' here to get yours! Through the sheer shock of his presentation, Rage forces readers to consider the alternatives, to look at the garbage in the streets, to see what is swept into the gutters at night right before all decent people awake to see another cleaned up version of the day.
Tired of 'safe' horror? Look no farther! 'click'!
February 8, 2011
RAGE PRIMER … UNLEASHED!
'click' here to get yours!
Review
"Get on the Rage train". Jordan Krall, Squid Pulp Blues.
"The hard stuff". Garrett Cook, Archelon Ranch.
"Steven Rage is a masterful storyteller". Eric Mays, Naked Metamorphosis. –Freaks Just Love The Reverend…
"Rage has created an incredibly creative and detailed, though disturbing world". Todd Fonseca, The Time Cavern. –Todd Fonseca, The Time Cavern.
Product Description
Please note: The fictional world of RAGE contains graphic violence, illicit drug use, non-consensual extreme sex, and potentially offensive material given the religious references.
"RAGE PRIMER" Stories and Such by: REVEREND STEVEN RAGE
Thank you most sincerely for your interest in the work of RAGE. The following primer is a chilling stew of characters, situations and backgrounds that permeate my first half-dozen books. It is an introduction to my world and you are most welcome. Enter of your own free will:
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Surest Way I Know How
Blood and Bubblegum
Jonah
Shirk Comes Calling
Meet Pilate
King
Physician
Torturer
Newborn
Uncle Tugmunkee
About the Author
Interview the Reverend
Links of Rage
About the Author
"Steven Rage spits out his view of a twisted world that is deeply woven with the intricacies of a dark, drug-infested place ruled by evil forces. Rage explores the depths of sin, the way it stains our lives, and graphically illustrates the things we fear most. He forces us to look at true sin, true villainy, and truly offensive images of alternative realities. Rage creates a dismal post-industrial future, a look at man defiled and in decline. Evil has arrived. Dominion has been taken by those who walk as the damned, demons, Halflings, products of debauched rampages and sins against nature. Drugs and broken souls are the only things of value. Life is more like a disease, and the only salvation is the right amount of Plata to numb the conscience and, if one is lucky, to bring on a cleverly disguised demise. Through the sheer shock of his presentation, Rage forces readers to consider the alternatives, to look at the garbage in the streets, to see what is swept into the gutters at night right before all decent people awake to see another cleaned up version of the day. He uses tradition to break tradition, to push the imagination in ways that are uncomfortable at the least and border on the offensive at worst. Yet, in doing so, he illustrates what real Love is. Rage has created an incredibly detailed and disturbing world of unique, creative, fast paced, brutal, dark, and bizarre novels that are not for the feint of heart."
"Shout at the Devil!" tres
Cover of PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale
Interview with BookHuntersBlog.com 
9/11/2008 11:49:00 PM
by The Grim Reverend Steven Rage
——————————————————————————–
by Marius on Wed May 28, 2008 10:03 am
Interview with Steven Rage – Pilate: A Brutal Bible Tale
by Marius on Wed May 28, 2008 10:03 am
BookHuntersBlog.com: Did you study the craft of writing or dive right into it?
Steven Rage: Hit and miss, this class and that, writing, writing and still more writing since the mid-1980s.
BHB: What was your motivation behind writing these stories?
SR: Growing up in religious schools, Pontius Pilate was always my favorite bible character. I could never figure out why he allowed the torture and crucifixion of what he knew to be an innocent, in fact a holy man? Why? It plagued me for years, and then I remembered a line from the song Sympathy for the Devil: "I was there when Jesus Christ had his moment of doubt and pain; I made damn sure Pilate washed his hands and sealed his fate…" Whose fate? Pontius Pilate's or Jesus'? Then I began to think of vampirism as a punishment of eternal multiple lives, instead of a reward. And then I went to The Harbor and felt the wickedness. It all came together and six years later, TA-DAH!
BHB: Are you religious; and if yes, don't you think you have committed blasphemy?
SR: I am a spiritual seeker. I do not engage in religiosity that has only one set of right answers and eternal punishments if you've guessed wrong. As far as blasphemy? If I would not have treated Immanuel of The Harbor, Jesus of Nazareth, with anything but the utmost respect and adoration, I would be blasphemous.
BHB: Why did you make Jesus female? 
SR: Immanuel is a female because I think the desire and willingness to sacrifice your life and to subject yourself to torture and defilement for those you see as your children, is an inherent female trait. The fact that Her name Immanuel and Her title of respect, El Cristo is the male forms owes itself to The Harbor.
The men and women there are seen as either masculine or feminine. Much more so than straight gender.
BHB: Did you ever feel uncomfortable during the writing process?
SR: Two parts of Pilate made me feel… unwell. I will let you ponder on what those two were.
BHB: Would you say that organized religion has lost its true meaning long ago?
SR: Organized religion, by it's very nature, is a small group controlling the thoughts and actions of a larger group. With detailed punishments for lack of compliance. Yeah, I'd say it has long lost its purity of purpose.
BHB: What do you think about the future of books with all the new technology coming out (like Kindle and foldable screens)?
Or, you can get the KINDLE version! 
SR: I'm not up on new technology. POD (publishing on demand) and marketing on the internet is still amazing to me!
BHB: How difficult was the publishing process for you?
SR: It was horrifying until I accepted that every aspect of the book, idea, research, countless re-writes, all the editing and marketing, are your responsibility. Then it meshed… being a little obsessive-compulsive certainly helped.
BHB: How much of your own promotion do you do?
SR: Every little bit.
BHB: Do you have any tips for aspiring authors?
SR: Don't do it for money, do it for posterity. Someone, somewhere, 20 years after you are long gone is going to read what you wrote and be changed, in some way. Try and top that.
BHB: What are your future plans?
SR: There are three Brutal Bible Tales. PILATE was published in Jan, 2008. JONAH JOB is being written now, and the third installment, THE DARK MINISTER, centered on a wonderfully creepy Apostle Paul is in the planning stages.
BHB: How do you juggle writing with the rest of your life?
SR: Stolen moments, creative surges, dry spells, stimulants and long, unhealthy doses of sleep-deprivation.
BHB: Do you have any methods or rituals to your writing?
SR: I always write the first draft on lineless copy paper in pencil. The final draft of the fist paragraph is the last thing I write. The last page is almost always comes to me about 20-30% into the book. And I can never write when I am pissed off, or in a bad mood. All the gruesome bits come when I feel content and secure… My God, what a Psychology major could make of that!
BHB: How do you find inspiration?
SR: Spending an incognito week with the real-life inspiration for Immanuel, exploring The Harbor and its unique peoples was critical to the validity of the fictional setting.
BHB: Was there one certain event or happening that made you want to write a book?
SR: I always wanted to write a bible-inspired story based in modern times that had no intention of pandering to anyone; a story that treats both Dark and Light with the respect all the holy ones, prophets, and deities deserve.
BHB: What do you do against writer's block?
SR: A full time job! That way, the book is done when it's done.
BHB: Do you use an outline when writing? Do you stay linear or do you skip in time?
[b] SR: I usually write the outline (timeline) linear. But I like to jump around to build and maintain suspense. I try to make the book enjoyable to readers on several layers and in many different ways. Why not have a horror novel that is based on a bible story, set in modern times, with the grit and grime of drugs and organized crime with suspense sprinkled throughout?
BHB: How difficult was it to get an agent?
SR: I sent out a hundred queries to get an agent who loved my Brutal Bible Tales….and then waited three long years while I was still being rejected by every publishing house out there. What a waste of time.
BHB: How important is a good website and do you utilize blogging?
SR: Any success that I may yet acquire can be placed at that doorstep. I blog my PILATE and even some unpublished JONAH JOB excerpts through several web pages, including myspace.com/stevenrage and AllTheseBooks.com.
BHB: What do you prefer and why: Mass-market paperback or hard cover for your debut novel?
SR: Without a doubt, paperback. It's cheaper, so more people will buy it, read it, and pass it on to a friend with a: "Man, you have got to read this!"
Nothing in this world would be better than that!
BHB: What are the most difficult and rewarding aspects of being a published writer?
SR: The most difficult is all the time marketing requires and the necessary, but sharp learning curve that goes with it. The best is hearing directly from readers the lines, or parts, or even just the characters that grabbed them by the throats and shook 'em. It's not always what you would have guessed…
Thank you very much for this opportunity, we wish you much success in your career!
February 7, 2011
Who'd Win in a Death-Match: Shirk the Drug-snuffling Demon or The Bloody Chick at the bottom of this page …
Chapter Thirteen
DOWN GOES WESTPHAL
Be Seeing You
Westphal awoke in his bed. Sammy was there, looking on with concern.
"I was dreaming of kittens," he told the ghost. "There were dozens of them and they were eating me."
"I don't know about no cats," Sammy told him, indicating all the bandaged wounds on his thighs, belly and chest, "But somethin' sure as shit was biting da fuck outta you. What was it?"
"I got in over my head, don't worry about it," Westphal replied, sitting himself up in bed. "I went over to Steele's and got dosed."
He looked down at all the bandaged bites. They hurt like crazy, but they looked clean. Sammy did a nice job of first-aid.
"What time is it, anyway?" Westphal asked.
"It's early afternoon, Westie," Sammy replied.
"Early afternoon, then why the fuck you wake me up, Dad?"
"Because when they dropped you off, it was yesterday, Son," he explained. "I woke you up cuz I know how you feel about yer job."
What?
"I've been sleeping for a whole day?"
"Yeah, kid," Sammy told him, "A whole day."
"Shit, man, I gotta go to fuckin' work?"
"Yeah, if you still want it."
Of course he still wants his gig at Harborside District. They would all be lost without the money.
"Did you see a package when they dropped me off?" he asked, and then: "And my car?"
"They're both here, Westie," Sammy replied. "The car's in yer spot and da package I put under da sink where yous keeps yer medicine."
"Thanks, Dad," Westphal replied with great relief.
He had to get ready for work and needed the extra extras. He asked for the coffee. While Sammy went to put the pot on, Westie gingerly stood up from the bed and made his way over to the bathroom.
He kneeled with a painful grunt and found the bundled package under the sink. God bless, Sammy!
Westphal opened the bubble wrap lined manila envelope and saw the goodies inside. All the powders were labled and the pills as well. And on the top of all the drugs he ordered, Westphal saw a syringe with a note wrapped around it.
He unwrapped the package and read the note: "Take me with you. Save me for later. You'll need it! Shirk."
Shirk. Now he was beginning to remember the film and the demon and Shirk. But he was on his feet, with his crazy memories of getting sucked by a beautiful demon. He also had a big, even generous buffet of powerful and dangerous drugs. Coffee was brewing and he still had his job to go to.
So Westphal grabbed some percs and popped them for the pain. Knowing they would make him sleepy, he went to his desk and snorted up some pre-work enthusiasm.
Then he showered, having Sammy re-do his bandages.
When he walked out to the popcan, he thought the bullshit was behind him.
Westphal's boss, Mr. Whistlebottom, was waiting for him when he walked through the entrance to Harborside District Hospital. Oh, shit.
"What's up?" asked Westphal as soon as he saw him.
"Let's go to my office," he said and Westphal followed him as they wound their way around and down to Mr. Whistlebottom's office, next to their department in the basement.
We're always underground, huh Westie?
Once they were in and seated, Westphal let his boss get started.
"You won't be taking care of Mr. Mandiddle anymore."
"Why's that?" Westphal asked, hoping not to show his exultation.
C'mon, Westie, you know why.
"The patient is deceased."
Westphal felt a punch to his gut, remembering the filthy scrubs he had Sammy burn. He began to wonder why he really did that, instead of washing them.
"Did you need to go over my notes, or?" he let it hang. Mr. Whistlebottom looked at him a moment.
"No," he replied, "We already did, but you weren't even here, were you?"
"No," Westphal said a tad to quickly, "I mean; when did the patient expire?"
Expire. Just like milk gone bad.
"Day before yesterday," he was told, "but it wasn't due to his illnesses."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean Mr. Mandiddle did not die of natural causes. He was murdered in a horrific way," Mr. Whistlebottom stated flatly.
"Murdered?" Whestphal replied, the fear beginning to balloon in him. "Murdered, how?"
The boss picked up a piece of official looking paper. It looked like a coroner's report. Mr. Whistlebottom read from it. "The patient was strangled to death by purposeful and forceful placement of a foreign object, occluding the trachea, leading to anoxic death."
"Somebody strangled Mr. Mandiddle?" Westphal asked in a squeak. He nervously shifted his position and felt a panic coming on. "Who did it?"
"The police don't know yet," he said, staring at Westphal, watching him begin to shake a little. "Are you alright there, Westphal?"
"Yeah, sure, of course," he told him. "Umm, uh what was he strangled with?"
"Well now, that's the really strange part of the story," he said, "It was with his own diseased rectum."
"What?" asked Westphal, "Are you playing with me?"
"Not for a minute would I joke about something like that," he replied, "don't make that mistake again."
"Yeah, sure, I'm not joking either, Mr. Whistlebottom," Westphal tried to explain, "It's just that I guess I don't understand how that could happen. I mean I knew he had the necrotizing bug in his rectum, but how could he have been strangled by it?"
"The authorities claimed they found a pair of those long, curved forceps they use for tube placement on the floor, under his bed."
"Okay."
"Yes, so they initially determined that someone rather strong used the forceps to literally grab onto and forcibly removed his rectum and then, still using the forceps, forcibly stuffed it down Mr. Mandiddle's throat."
He shouldn't have been mean to you.
"Well, uhm, uh – that would certainly do it," was all Westphal could think to say. He was already thinking about how he could ask if there were any prints on the forceps without ass-squeak here getting suspicious.
"So, that's why you won't be taking care of that gem, anymore," his boss replied, showing just a hint of humanity. But then: "The other longer-term care patient we would normally assign has specifically requested to not be cared for by you."
"What? Specifically me? Who is it and what did I do to shit in their oatmeal?"
"First, you are not to use that language with me, ever."
"Sorry."
"Yes, you are," he agreed, getting far too steamed up for just that comment, "Have you taken care of a," glancing down at another piece of paper he didn't really need to see, "Mrs. Fussbudget?"
She's a beauty.
Westphal stared at him a moment, their eyes meeting. Westphal was getting dangerously near to panicking, but sucked it up.
He said: "No, I've never taken care of her."
"Ever been in her room?"
"No."
"Not even as part of an Urgent Response Team?"
Why would I lie, why would I lie?
"No, sir," Westphal replied, eyes starting to twitch uncomfortably, "Never taken care of her in any situation. I have never been in her room, and frankly, before now I doubt if I had even heard her name."
"Well, that's what I thought," he said, putting that piece of paper down and picking up another one. "But the family is quite insistent after she picked out your picture as the one who assaulted her."
"What happened to her?"
"The police and in-house consul made it clear that I was not to say, just that there is now an ongoing investigation." He looked closely at Westphal. "They also suggested that you be monitored closely."
Oh, fat-ass, did you just make the list!
"What the fuck does that mean?" Westphal asked, incredulously.
"What did I just tell you about that kind of language?"
"Just tell me what the hell is going on here, Mr. Whistlebottom." Westphal demanded, thoroughly red-faced and getting loud. "I suggest you come clean."
Mr. Whistlebottom was dumbfounded and his own faced darkened. It was with a considerable dose of effort that he kept his cool, Westphal could tell. He almost felt sorry for the paper-pushing fat fuck.
"You are hereby placed on suspension, dependant on the outcome of the police as well as our own in-house investigation."
"Starting when?"
"Immediately," Mr. Whistlebottom replied and stood. "You can go home now. You will be paid 2 hours for coming in. Thank you."
Westphal waited a moment for more, but that was all there was. He was suspended, without pay, and for what? Just because some wig-wearing old battle-axe that's behind on her eyeglass prescription picked him out of a group of photos? Are they fucking serious? Well, fuck them, then, he thought, and the horse they all rode in on. I am out of here.
"I guess I'll just leave then," Westphal replied and high-tailed it to the office door.
"The hospital will call you to schedule time with the police," he shouted after Westphal.
"Fine," he said and opened the office door, where he was met by a large dude in civilian clothes.
"Are you Westphal?" he asked sweetly.
"Yes," Westphal replied, and even before he could inquire as to what the motherfucker wanted, the dude punched him in the gut and then landed a good one on Westphal's cheekbone.
Normally, that would have been the end of the fight. Westphal was more of a junkie than a fighter, but he was pissed all the way off.
He surprised even himself, and jumped on the dude and began wailing away on him. He had the dude pinned down and was trying to beat him into the floor when he was pulled off by security. The dude got up, bleeding and all, and got in a solid kick to the chest which spelled the end to the confrontation and Westphal's employment at Harborside District Hospital.
You ain't-uh workin' here no mo'.
Clean-up's gonna be a chore …
Available in PRINT!
February 5, 2011
Doin' the "last-chance-4-romance-danse-macabre of Morbid Love" …
Cover of PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale
Available in PRINT!
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful step forward in Rage's career, October 30, 2009
By Matthew Revert (Melbourne, Australia) – This review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
To be honest, Steven Rage's first book, "Pilate: A Brutal Bible Tale", only half-worked for me. There was certainly a compelling tale to be told but you had to cut through the style to get there. I accept that I may be in the minority here but that was my initial reaction. After the "adjustment period", if you want to call it that, Pilate really opened up and revealed a wealth on nearly realised potential. Rage was tantilisingly close to writing a great book. Flash forward a few years and an unsuspecting literary world is handed Rage's next book, You Morbid Westphal. Set in a hospital, the title of the book is derived from the three main characters. Born fully formed from a rather unpleasant orifice is Morbid. His game is to stalk the hospital wings and violently (very violently!) dispatching helpless patients. Next we have Westphal. He works nights at the hospital trying to support, what some my call, a rather dysfunctional family. With Morbid reeking havoc in this very unfortunate hospital, the one thing Westphal doesn't need is to be blamed for Morbid's actions. It would do his job no good. The "You" in this book's title literally refers to "you". You are a dying patient who wants to die as peacefully as possible. There are elements at work that want to prevent this from occurring. From the description above, you could be forgiven for assuming this is going to be a rather confusing story. I'll allay your fears right from start and assure you that Rage waves this tale brilliantly. The details of the story are lucid and feverishly entertaining. The hyper violence is contextualised in such a way as to avoid gratuitousness. The book is brief, clocking in at just under 140 pages, which gives You Morbid Westphal and element of frenzy. In this format everything works. It's hard to imagine the tone sustaining over a longer period. You Morbid Westphal is very highly recommended and a real treat for anyone who enjoys their fiction warped to breaking point and smeared in blood. Rage has applied all the lessons he learned with Pilate and written that great book!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars An Unholy Trinity, December 29, 2009
By Todd A. Fonseca (Minneapolis, MN) – This review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
You live your final days lying in a hospital bed, unable to move or take of yourself while gritting through constant pain waiting for the madness to end. Unfortunately, your heinous deeds during life are coming full circle and sweet death continues to be stayed by the demons that torture you keeping you just this side of the living. One such demon, Morbid, spawned from you through some unholy means dispatches other hospital patients in gruesome fashion. Meanwhile, a male nurse named Westphal makes his way through life looking to make just enough money to score his next drug buy and take care of his ghost stepfather and pet unborn fetus. This is harbor hospital, and this is the end of your life.
Rage's sophomore novel You Morbid Westphal takes place in the harbor similar to his first novel PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale. All of the graphic, disturbing and gruesome imagery Rage demonstrated his prowess at in the first book return in this offering. However, in this chapter, these elements seem a less gratuitous, a little more muted, and more securely woven into the fabric of a very disturbing tale. This novel is not for the faint of heart and is extreme in all ways imaginable – really, I'm not kidding. None-the-less, Rage is incredibly creative and talented. It's hard to fathom what hell might be like – unspeakable pain and agony – perhaps. But I think Rage paints a picture that drives home the concept of a living hell one must suffer due to their heinous choices in life. If the real thing is anything like this, one can only hope and pray for redemption and salvation.
Rage parallels some biblical themes once again, though in an unholy bizarro fashion and throws in a twist at the end reminiscent of the 1987 movie Angel Heart [Blu-ray] starring Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro and Lisa Bonet. For those who enjoyed Pilate – you will find an even better book in Westphal.
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and scary, June 20, 2010
By Ray Dittmeier (Louisville, KY) -
(REAL NAME) Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
This is a short book; you could read it in a single sitting, as I did–twice. Even so, Reverend Rage somehow manages to give us a story that has the scope of a full-blown novel without skimping anywhere. It's fascinating, scary, out-and-out repulsive at times, and even amusing in a few places. (I love Sammy, the crusty old ghost-dad who lives with Westphal.) The book tells an intricate story, dark and gritty and bizarre–I don't know if Rage claims them as influences, but it makes me think of Chuck Palahniuk and collaborating on a horror novel–set in a world of drug dealers, prostitutes, porn producers and otherworldly beings. This world, as well as the story, is well-realized and full of the kind of detail that makes it feel authentic. Everything is extremely vivid. Westphal, the central character, is a drug-addicted loser who's just one screw-up away from losing his job at a hospital, and who finds he's gotten in over his head with his drug dealer. In fact, I would imagine most of us know, or have known, at least one Westphal in real life. There's much more to it than that, but talking more about the various threads and themes in the story would be running the risk of giving away spoilers. Suffice to say it's a story full of imagination and weirdness, a story that invites you to give a little thought to what it takes to maintain some control over your life, and to take a look at your capacity for good and evil.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Reverend Rage Hath Come, May 5, 2010
By Kevin Shamel (Pacific Northwest) –
(REAL NAME) This review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
Do you like to read a book where you're a character in it and you really sorta wish you weren't (but you still totally love that you are)? Do you like reading books that take you out of this world and into the weird, amazing, thoughtful world the author has ready? You won't find a more twisted, delicious, dark, and unique tale of the ups, downs, and insides of dying in some sort of peace than You Morbid Westphal. This is about angels, demons, and the fight for your soul. It's about people. Rage tells this story through obvious experience and thoughtful reflection on the world around him. He delivers a refined view of violence and gore, a bright shining bit of love and hope in the gristle and guts of death. He tells a frightening, gripping, original story that will suck you straight in, like it or not. And I'm pretty sure you'll love it. It's gritty, and realistically crazy. It's gross in just the right amounts. The story is so eloquently presented that you're straight in it for the whole nail-biting ride. I'd say it's masterful. Dark, beautiful, bizarro, and insightful–The Reverend does brilliantly. I'm an instant fan of Steven Rage. I can't wait to read more.
4.0 out of 5 stars Fuel yourself with RAGE, February 16, 2010
By David W Barbee (Georgia, USA) – This review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
Reading this book, you get the impression that Steven Rage is actually a really nice guy. You feel like he's a guy with whom you can share a nice brewski and watch some kind of sports on TV. But beware, because underneath the everyman persona, Steven Rage is one sick man. The evidence of his twisted mind is You Morbid Westphal, a brutal noir tale of drugs and demons.
Steven Rage shows us the life of Westphal, a male nurse who works twelve hour shifts and gets most of his nutrients from hard drugs. Westphal lives in a dillapidated apartment with his ghost stepdad and a pet fetus, the most economical companion of all. Through the story we get to see Westphal move about in the desolate town of Harbor, having casual run-ins with demons and drug dealers. Westphal's life sucks, but it's actually WAY worse than he thinks.
If you're a fan of dark and brutal stories, I definitely recommend Rage's work. The narration is raw and blunt, but he's created very interesting characters to populate this dark and moody world. It never comes off as "shocking for the sake of being shocking." You Morbid Westphal is a fast-paced tale that winds itself up and releases with a deadly and violent twist ending. If you think you've got the stomach to see the brutal blackness squirming around in Steven Rage's mind, give this a read. After all, he's a very nice guy in real life.
4.0 out of 5 stars wonderfully warped, divinely demented, December 3, 2009
By D. Gorman "Crystalline Structure Moon" – See all my reviewsAmazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
when it comes to the grotesque and bizarre, rage thinks outside the pine box (casket, that is). this is a short but tasty little treat for those who like their literature to run on the sick and twisted side. as with his book about pilate, rage combines a knowledge of modern street/drug culture and slang with an intelligent wit and a lyrical sense of prose. although written in prose, it has a certain poetic flow that maintains the sick depravity you expect to see in rage's work. it's short, but complete unto itself. it doesn't need to be any longer than it is…and it almost comes off as reading like a morbid, morose, sick, demented, profane version of The Iliad and The Odyssey (in form, not in content). and it really is worth reading…if you like this kind of sick stuff, which I do. as i said, it's not just gross…there's an intelligence and a worthy writing style in rage's work. it's hard to explain. all i can say is: if i were ever to be reincarnated as another charlie manson, i would definitely want steven rage in my family. this is an inventive story of woe and regret and sex and things crawling out of notoriously uncomfortable body orafices that is not to be missed. if you like the demented and bizarre, give this short but tasty little number a try. it's like chicken eyeball soup with entrails for your shriveled, rancid soul.
5.0 out of 5 stars Steven Rage hits his stride and finds a home, December 1, 2009
By ellen "ellen in atlanta" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) – See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) This review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
When you read this book, you may need to take a few hits of Plata or Valium to get through, or not, and experience the entire book, page by page, as Steven Rage intended it – to scare, to upset, and to start and keep you thinking.
There is a large ripple in the Evil Nerd Empire printing company universe. Steven Rage has found a home and a place for him to write to his heart's content and has a built in audience of horror readers who will want for more. Bravo that he's found a home for his readership – Steven Rage is a brilliant writer in his genre.
Is a Steven Rage book for the ordinary reader??? No way. Every page is not for the faint of heart. It deals with lots of drugs, dead people, aborted fetuses, and someone like Westphal who works in a nursing facility and literary 'has his way' with the patients.
In order for more drugs, he appears in a 'porn' flick that is uneasy to read as it was for Westphal to participate in.
Is this and other Steven Rage works for everyone? No. That is why I tell you I know the brilliance of the man, been a fellow writer in the first Shameless Shorts Short Story Anthology, and read his book PILATE on Harborside's modern version of Pontius Pilate and Jesus – brilliant, but violent, as the story was.
He is talented and his audience is specific – one who understands that Mr. Rage pulls no punches, nor cushions any situations – it is what it is.
You Morbid Westfal is not everyone's cup of tea. But for afficianados of the morbid, and horror, The Evil Nerd Empire Publishing has opened its arms and given Mr.Rage a forum for his talents, which are formidable. I look forward to more from Steven Rage.
5.0 out of 5 stars Brtual, November 28, 2009
By Garrett Cook "Bizarro Pulp Writer" (Warrenville, IL) – See all my reviewsThis review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
You Morbid Westphal is not a book for the faint of heart. Do not give this to your ten year old. Do not try to teach it in seventh grade English. Do not read it if you don't want to be disturbed and excited. There are plenty of mildly horrific titles out there for those of you who think hot water is better than espresso or milk is better than whiskey. You Morbid Westphal explores a nasty situation in the life of a man who is surrounded by sickness and death and eager to escape the pain. It's a brutal indictment of drug addiction, healthcare practices and American decadence that is sure to leave you squirming. But if you're up for some of the hard stuff, you'll dig this.
5.0 out of 5 stars Like early Tom Piccirilli mixed with Edward Lee, November 10, 2009
By Jordan Krall "fan of bizarro, horror, noir, a… (Noir Jersey, USA) – See all my reviewsThis review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
I read and liked this author's first book PILATE. It was an impressive debut. But when I got this one, his second, I knew I had to expect more from Steven Rage. When reading novels, I always expect more from later books (and therefore am a little tougher when reviewing them) and I didn't want to be disappointed.
I was far from disappointed with this book. Like another reviewer said, Rage's first book, the style often got in the way of the story. With YOU MORBID WESTPHAL, Rage made sure to cut things down to the bone and tell the story more directly while still keeping his unique voice.
The plot sort of reminds me of early Tom Piccirilli horror novels. There's a certain ambiguous occultism involved that's very intriguing. There is also some hardcore grossness that is also reminiscent of Edward Lee. Not to say that Rage has imitated them, I just get that feeling from this book…..which is a good thing.
My only criticism is the length. If this is the first in a series of books, then the criticism is negated. But if it's a standalone, I'm just a little bit disappointed in not finding out more about some of the minor characters. They are all so interesting. Also, the ending is good and wraps everything up but I was hoping for something a bit less traditional. It still worked well and was a satisfying ending.
The setup of the book was unique, with each chapter being from a different point of view (You, Morbid, & Westphal). It might confuse people at first but then you get into it and it flows nicely.
Overall, this is an improvement over Rage's last book and is worth a read if you like bizarre horror novels. Get on the Rage train while you can because I have a feeling that he'll be getting bigger and bigger with each new book.
5.0 out of 5 stars All the Rage – You Morbid Westphal, November 3, 2009
By Eric Mays "Bizarro Author of "Naked Metam… (Richmond, VA) – See all my reviewsThis review is from: You Morbid Westphal (Paperback)
The concept of "You Morbid Westphal" shouldn't have worked at all! There's no way it was supposed to. I've seen some experimental fiction like this before and watched as it plummeted into the abyss face-first leaving irate readers in its wake. This is supposed to be that sort of book…
…but it succeeds…beautifully.
For starters, the title You Morbid Westphal is setting up the three main characters. You…as in you…yes, you, Morbid, a malicious little beastie, and Westphal, who's just trying to get through the graveyard shift at the hospital you're in. These are the three main characters and they share the piece in circular stories. The "you" portions of the book read like a "Choose-Your-Own-Adventure" book…placing you right in the action. You're responsible for birthing Morbid. You're not going to have a very good night. You're experiencing it as it unfolds. This style is not my typical fare, but I was captivated by it. I loved seeing what havoc was unfurling around my world. Meanwhile you get the other two stories (obviously connected). One follows Morbid as he indulges his macabre whims and the coke-addled Westphal. Should you find yourself in a hospital, pray it isn't this one. In fact, I'm not above the cliché…I'll say it: You Morbid Westphal does for hospitals what Jaws did for beach getaways!
Steven Rage is a masterful storyteller. He weaves a world that his painted in black and white hues, where anything can happen (and often does), and his brutally visceral. I realize that this is a horror tale…I guess you could call it that. It's got more emotion than your typical horror fare. I felt the emotional rollercoaster travel from repulsed to humored to moved and back again. And the end…well, I'm not the one to spill the beans, but rest assured, you'll not know what is in store for "You" until you reach the final pages.
My biggest complaint with the book was the length. I craved more, which is a wonderful thing, and wanted to see more of the story fleshed out. I make no bones about it…I'm a longer fiction type person. But I never dismiss a solid story, and this was certainly that. The fact that I wanted more should attest to the quality.
Too, at first I was a little confused with the circular-style storytelling. It's a three ring circus…not a crazy train that has too many clashing storylines…but in the beginning it is a little confusing.** Please keep reading, though. In the end it's worth it all and Steven Rage does bring it together nicely.
If you like your horror visceral pick this up. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
The Monster Librarian Digs RAGE ... so should YOU!
You Morbid Westphal by Steven Rage, reviewed by 'The Monster Librarian'
YOU. Yes, "you"… are a poor soul in the hospital on your last legs. And as it is, you've "given birth" to one of the most horrible "people" ever possible…MORBID. Born from "your" rectum, Morbid dispatches many other patients in the hospital in extremely horrendous and painful ways. However, the main suspect of these murders isn't Morbid, but instead… WESTPHAL. Living with his ghost step-dad, Sammy, and his pet aborted fetus, Chip, Westphal works as a night shift nurse, getting stuck with all of the worst patients. All those that no one else wants to fool with. Just to get through the day, Westphal has to dope himself up with the strongest narcotics possible and that doesn't always help make things easier. These three characters, as well as a host of other interesting "people" make up Steven Rage's You Morbid Westphal. Both the characters and story format are unique- Rage has created a one-of-a-kind voice with this novella, which has enough story to fill a full-length book. A large chunk of the story follows Westphal day-to-day as he suffers through many horrendous tasks at work, in his dreams, and even just trying to obtain more drugs along the way. As soon as I read the final chapters of this book I was ready to re-read it. I ended up waiting a few months before doing just that, but after a second read, I would be more than happy to do so yet again… and again… and again… You Morbid Westphal is one of those novellas that never get tiresome, as you pick up something different with each read through. You Morbid Westphal is not for the faint of heart, as it is full of numerous crude scenes that Rage describes in graphic detail. For many seasoned horror/bizarro readers, this will be a plus, but for those that can't handle things over the top, beware! Highly recommended!
Contains: Adult language, Adult Situations, Sex, Rape, Violence, Gore, Heavy Drug Use
Review by Rhonda Wilson
Where to Turn When One is Weary of Lame Shit ...
February 4, 2011
"Shout at the Devil!" dos
Interview with Trei Literary Magazine 
9/9/2008 10:16:00 PM
by The Grim Reverend Steven Rage
——————————————————————————–
PRINT Edition!
Welcome to The Premiere Issue of TREI Literary Magazine!!
TLM: When did you first know you wanted to become a writer?
SR: Probably about the time my first cell split in two.
TLM: How long have you been writing?
SR: In my early twenties I really, really wanted to write, but vastly underestimated how difficult it was. The desire never quite abated, you know. A writer writes because they have no choice. I kept plugging away, publishing nice, tight medical articles. Fiction was much slower to improve. I'd say I wrote about two thousand pages of fiction that has been burned, not mourned, before I wrote the first word good enough to be seen by others.
TLM: Who was your biggest influence, and why?
SR: There are several influences for my Brutal Bible Tales. I'd say Ernest Hemingway's short, concise sentence structure, Ann Rice, Clive Barker, and Ray Bradbury's beautiful use of language, Irvine Welsh for the courage to use distinct time and place patois, Robert Ludlum's suspense sense, Kurt Vonnegut's irreverence and Stephen King's glorious sense of the macabre.
TLM: A lot of writers tend to favor one particular genre over most others. What would you say is your favorite, and why?
SR: I prefer horror, especially with biblical, spiritual, or religious themes. I love the films: Angel Heart, Constantine, and Prophecy, for example. I don't know if my work can be easily classified, but I am a dark Christian horror writer of Brutal Bible Tales.
TLM: Who is your favorite author, and why?
SR: If I had a gun to my head and had to pick just one, it would have to be the one and only Mr. Irvine Welsh. He created a universe that requires you to come to him. It is his brilliance of storytelling that makes it worth reading in the Scottish brogue voice of Fat Bastard…Oh, Aye.
TLM: Do you find that aspects of your own personality show up in your work?
SR: Of course. Never autobiographical because I'm just not interesting enough. But every aspect of my personality makes it into my work as bits and pieces of many characters.
TLM: Are any of your characters based on real people?
SR: Aspects are. It could be a 'look' they have or 'quirks'…writers are like Templeton from Charlotte's Web. We take and hide tidbits of personas, appearance, and different things they say…music, art film, everything. Writers are thieves and hoarders, man. We will mesh anything and everything together to get the right stew of a story, believe that!
TLM: Authors sometimes, even on a subconscious level, tend to let their personality or beliefs come through in their work. Would you say you do that, and if so, what can readers expect to learn about you through your writing?
SR: What I set out to do was to not flinch when writing…to say whatever needed to be said…let the chips fall where they may. Specific to PILATE, I insisted on presenting both dark and light forces, like Immanuel and Satan, as both brilliant, powerful, and not to be trifled with. The Christ isn't a grinning fop and the Devil will pull your lungs out through your nose if you do not give to him his due.
TLM: Breaking into any business of this nature can be a difficult road to travel. What would you say to aspiring authors who dream of leaving their mark on this world?
SR: Just that: leave your mark on this world. Writing for financial gain in this day and age is likened to playing Jazz. No matter how brilliant you are, you're probably gonna need a day job. Now the good in that is you do not have to kowtow to anyone. Write what your heart and gut tell you. They tell writers to "write what you know", which is good advice, especially if you have a specific knowledge base. Even better advice is to "write what you would want to read".
TLM: What are you currently working on at the moment?
SR: I am working on the second installment and sequel to PILATE, entitled "JONAH JOB: A Brutal Bible Tale". This takes the two classic Old Testament bible stories and turns them on their ears….it is unlike anything seen before, I kid you not.
TLM: Have you decided what your next project will be, and if so, care to give us some insight into what we can look forward to from you?
SR: I am in the planning stages for the third offering to the Brutal Bible Tales
(Harborside) series, "THE DARK MINISTER: A Brutal Bible Tale" about a wonderfully wicked Apostle Paul, and also a straight horror novel set in a hospital on the graveyard shift.
TLM: What is your ultimate goal/dream as an author?
SR: To leave a lasting impression. To leave a long trail. To have a body of work my future grandchildren will be proud to share with their friends and loved ones. To have my work still be here, long after I am not. Oh, and to have my twenty books turned into films! That would be tres, tres cool.
TLM: Is there anything else you'd like to share with everyone?
SR: PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale is available now in paperback, e-book, Kindle and signed editions, and that the world Steven Rage created is a scary one. But some can triumph and transcend. Just know when you are thinking of reading my books, you must brace yourself for one WILD violent ride.
Gruesome violence is as old as the Bible itself ...
The much leaner and much cleaner version of PILATE. G'head, you can give it to yer kidz, fer Goodness sakes!
the sequal to "PILATE: A Brutal Bible Tale". Available in PRINT and KINDLE ...
Where to Turn When You Want to Make your Blood Boil and your chest Heave ...
Cold as frozen shit …
Image by cbcastro via Flickr
The Place In Between
Reverend Steven Rage
Title:
The Place In Between
Author:
Reverend Steven Rage
Released:
01/08/10
Paperback:
240 pages
Dimensions:
203 x 127 mm
ISBN:
978-0-9805938-3-9Available here: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLNAEO
LegumeMan Books is proud to announce the release of Reverend Steven Rage's The Place In Between'.The Place in Between: When Del is sent pictures of his wife's latest affair, he reasons a .45 caliber bullet will answer his problems. To Del's dismay, that's only the beginning of his time spent wedged in the place in between. Luci's lover tortures Del relentlessly. Del wants to recover just enough to seek revenge on them both. Sure enough a demon shows up with her silky-sweet promises. Then the ambiance twists dark and cruel beyond anything any one of them could've imagined.Blood and Bubblegum: It's colder than frozen shit down here in the dangerous tunnels of The Harbor in the post-cataclysmic world (ACE). Juan and I find ourselves here, in this horrible place because of The Good Doctor. His organic narcotics trade is booming. Juan, Mary and I want in. We have to find TGD and the nocturne, see if they will let us. We are down. We are hungry. And we are bringing Blood and Bubblegum to sweeten the pot. All of our dreams will come true. The only uncertainty is Mary and Juan living long enough to reap the rewards.Bad Notion, Traveling Potion: The second day of the fifth waxing moon, in the 24th year, ACE. The frozen earth of The Harbor is in the grips of a new Little Ice Age. The human populace is down to just one-third. They are forced to exist in long, dank tunnels and cramped domiciles underground with The Good Doctor and his creations of Halflings and other freaks and geeks. TGD's latest organic narcotic discovery goes LIVE and becomes self-aware. The bad notion traveling potion makes meat puppet users do its unholy bidding. Then the monster decides to turn on TGD, the Creator. Not the best idea, this. But it sure is going to be fun to watch.
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/steven_rage/blog#ixzz10qPesxME
FOUR
Del remembered this next part, right down to
the tiniest of details. The sun was shining
through the bedroom window and over his
shoulder. He could hear Luci as she padded her way
down the hallway from the front door. The bright
yellow light shone a spot on a spider. It was crazy
busy trying to wrap up a bug it had caught. It was a
housefly, probably.
He sympathized with them both.
The spider and the fly were both caught by their
own designs and the whims of nature. Both will be
dead before long – the fly obviously sooner than the
spider – and no-one will even know that they had
been alive. It was just another travesty of the food
chain. Either you eat, or you get eaten. It's as simple
as that. Del knew what that was like. He was becoming
real acquainted with them. He'd had plenty of life
and death questions. They were all mixed up lately
with his dangerous revenge fantasies. It took him a
while, but he knew what he must do. Oh, boy was he
going to school her. Was he ever? You could count
on it.
Del heard her as she approached the bedroom
door. He saw Luci as she broached the threshold of
the doorway. Del opened his legs. He let Luci see the
gun. It amused him to no end watching as her fake
grin crumbled. She stared at the gun Del held as if
fixated by an unbreakable trance. She barely heard
him as Del spoke.
"I've had enough of this shit," he told her. Del
raised the .45 and leveled it steady at her chest.
"More than that, I've had enough of you."
"Del, don't," she said, her eyes locking on his
now. Her voice quivered as she spoke and the color
drained from her face.
"Bitch, please," he replied wryly. "I'm not going
to shoot you," he told her. "I just wanted to get you
shook." He lowered the gun. Luci began to cry from
the release of the strain. Her hands flew dramatically
to her face. It was a crying shame to see her so upset.
"Oh, my God, Del," she said, taking a tentative step
toward her armed husband. "For a minute there I
thought you really were going to kill me." She stepped
closer. "You scared the shit out of me, you jerk," Luci
told him, smiling once more. Del smiled back at her.
"I really got to you, huh?"
"Yeah, honey, you really did," Luci replied and
stopped right in front of her husband. He cocked his
head to the side, peering up at her.
"Well then," he said, "You're really going to get
a kick out of this," and he placed the .45 in his own
mouth. Time skidded to a stop. As Luci shouted and
lunged for him, Del squeezed the trigger.
The blood from the gun shot splattered everywhere.
The police were the first to arrive on the scene.
They took one look and started rolling out the yellow
crime scene tape. Luci had to prove to them that Del
was still alive. He had a pulse, but wasn't breathing.
The cops called for the emergency services and
waited for them to arrive. There was no way they
were going
to do any mouth-to-gaping-gunshotwound
on him. There was just no way. The fire and
ambulance teams arrived in short order. They got
Del stabilized, but it was just enough to move him to
the military hospital and immediately into emergency
surgery. The surgical team had to resuscitate Del
three separate times. He was in surgery for hours.
Some of the Navy's top surgeons leaning over Del's
face and neck, their damp foreheads nearly touching.
They were compelled to remove a good portion of the
man's face because the bullet had pretty much disintegrated
the entire jaw. Bits of bone had fragmented
and peppered the wet mucosa. The finer particles
of bone dust had been inadvertently sucked into
Del's lungs, causing a horrifying and life threatening
pneumonia. It began to take so much pressure to
oxygenate Del that the doctors had to strap him into
a roto-bed. Being constantly turned, Del was rotating
like a roasting pig in a luau. Using gravity to manipulate
his perfusion, Del was blissfully narcotized and
thankfully unaware.
Behave or they will toss you out of The Harbor Underground and up-top ...
![[image error]](http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sigil_of_Lucifer.svg){kind=link}
