Lee Mountford's Blog, page 6
July 20, 2017
Shared Universe
With my second novel, The Demonic, all but wrapped up, I’m now looking ahead to my third outing. And I’m going to ask for a little feedback on how best to evolve it.
I wrote the first drafts of Horror in the Woods and The Demonic one after the other, so both stories – in rough form – have been completed for a while. They both hint at some kind of other world – a place of chaos and evil that touches our own existence. A place that makes hell look like a cake walk (incidentally, if you sign up to my Mailing List you will get two free short stories that also reveal a small glimpse of this hellscape as well).
So with with my next book I want to continue this idea, but hopefully show more of this world, and delve into its mythology a little farther. I have a setting and main character all set, as well as a very rough outline, but it needs a lot of fleshing out.
I would be interested to know what people want to see more of with this next book – the gore and grit of Horror in the Woods, or the spooky, creepy atmosphere I hope comes across in The Demonic? Or a mix of the two?
But to give a little more info: it will be set in an asylum, and a man is imprisoned there who, as far as he knows, shouldn’t be. And while he’s there, all hell breaks loose! Things are unleashed that will tear his mind and body apart. And, as you can guess, the facility itself is not quite what it seems.
What I like about the shared universe I’m setting up with my books is that it allows me to hit certain tropes that I like, while still keeping things interconnected. I’m hoping it gives me a really fun – and horrifying – sandbox to play in, but I would be interested to see what people want more of?
I’ll update next with the release of The Demonic, but if anyone has any suggestions of feedback for my third book, feel free to let me know!
– Lee
July 16, 2017
New Free Short Story
Well, that took longer than expected! But my second free short story – The Demon of Dunton Farm – is now ready and has been emailed out to my Mailing List.
So, if you haven’t already signed up to the list – what are you waiting for? There are two 10K word short stories just waiting for you. Click here to sign up.
Incidentally, if you are on the list and haven’t yet received it, give it a day or so then drop me a line.
The Demon of Dunton Farm acts as a prequel to my upcoming novel, The Demonic, and that book is also due out soon (so very soon!). It’s just with my editor for a second pass, to try to avoid the grammatical errors that hindered Horror in the Woods. So I’m aiming for a release either this week or next week. Incidentally, HITW will also be going for another edit when the Demonic is complete. I think I was a bit naive with my first book, which I have learned from.
The only other thing to update on is to say that my wife and I just got back from an amazing few days in Whitby (in North Yorkshire, England). If you’ve never been, but are able to, I highly recommend going. It’s such an amazing place, unlike anywhere else. Narrow, cobbled streets, houses set into rising hills, and what remains of the Abbey looking over the town from the cliffs above – it has an atmosphere all its own. AND Bram Stoker wrote a good portion of Dracula there! So you would be in good company.
Oh yeah, and our baby is due in 5 weeks. Thats a pretty big deal – so I’m told 
July 5, 2017
The Demonic – Cover Reveal!
So, the cover for my new book – The Demonic – is finally ready. And I have to say, I’m really pleased with it! I think (hope!) it sells the tone and mood of the book.
No more to say really, other than – check this out:
– Lee
July 3, 2017
Extinction
Just wanted to post a little recommendation today, for a new book that has been released. It’s the third in a post-apocalyptical trilogy, and is called Extinction.
It’s written by Iain Rob Wright, an author who has been knocking out quality horror novels for years now. I’ve read many of them, and they all rock! As I say, Extinction is the third in a series that started with The Gates, then continued with Legion – both of which are excellent, so I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Iain is also a bit of gent, who has helped me no end with my own writing.
So, super nice guy and also a hell of a horror writer – why wouldn’t you want to check out his stuff? You can find out more about him at www.iainrobwright.com
And you can find Extinction here:
– Lee
June 30, 2017
The Brass Farm Murders
So, it isn’t too much of a spoiler to say that I took a little real-life inspiration for my new book, The Demonic. In fact, I’ve blogged about it before.
In the town where I grew up (a little place in the North East of England called Ferryhill), a gruesome set of murders took place. These murders are still the thing of legend in the town today. It involved a young farm hand, Andrew Mills, killing the three children of his master (John Brass, owner of Brass farm). And, well, he didn’t just kill them – he went crazy with an axe! And, he said, the Devil himself told Andrew to do it.
Talk about taking orders from the top!
Now, The Demonic doesn’t really focus on this tale, but it does use an altered version of it as part of the back story. The prequel short story, Demon of Dunton Farm (due out soon, to those on my mailing list) will focus on the altered version of these events, however. At last partly.
Now, the reason for this post is that when I sent the story off to the editor, someone got in touch who had actually written a book on the Brass Farm murders. And it is someone I am pretty sure I went to school with! Small world.
The book is called Demonic County Durham, and from what I have read so far (almost finished it) it is really good! It’s not a fiction book, but goes into great detail about what actually happened, and has uncovered things I had no idea about!
So, if anyone is interesting in learning a little more about the grizzly Brass Farm murders, I can really recommend checking this book out:
– Lee
PS – Just wanted to note that the similarity in usage of the word Demonic, in the titles of both our books, is purely coincidental. I pinky promise on that.
June 29, 2017
Another Update
Okay, apologies for the lack of updates on my blog – but there is a good reason for it!
First, The Demonic has come back from the editor, so I have been working through the revisions. In addition, I’ve also been getting my short story, Demon of Dunton Farm (prequel to The Demonic), finished off, and am nearly done with it.
So, things are progressing well, and I’m devoting my time and effort in getting The Demonic ready for release, which is looking likely to be mid-July. I’ll probably have it at 0.99 cents / pence for the first week or so, as an introductory offer, before putting it up to $2.99 / £2.99.
And the short story (prequel to The Demonic), will be released a couple of weeks prior to this.
I’m really excited to see what people make of this latest book. The editor said it genuinely creeped him out, which was nice to hear, so I’m hoping it meets expectations.
I’ll try to make sure I post more regular updates here as well.
– Lee
June 13, 2017
The Demonic getting closer!
So, my next book, The Demonic, has just gone off to the editor!
Woop, woop!
I’m hoping that it will be released in around a months time, though I can’t give an exact date as yet. But it’s getting close, and I’m really excited to see what people think of it. For this one, I’ve gone more for scares, and to get under your skin, than the out-and-out gore and violence of Horror in the Woods.
But, well, let’s just say that the gore and violence do make an appearance. I just couldn’t help myself! Not sure if that’s a good thing or not, to be honest…
Also, if anyone is considering signing up for my Mailing List, now is a good time. I’m finishing up my second Free Story, that will be going out to the list in a couple of weeks, and will act as a prequel to The Demonic. And, of course, you will also get immediate access to my Free short story The Hobbes Hall Diaries.
– Lee
June 5, 2017
Last Shift
Just a quick blog today, and more of a movie recommendation.
If you are a horror fan, and haven’t seen it yet, I’d really urge you to check out a film called Last Shift!
I had seen some recommendations on Reddit, but for some reason was hesitant in giving it a go. Not sure why, maybe because the original cover art didn’t do it for me. Whatever the reason, it was a mistake!
I watched the film the other week and, though it is a small film, it is fantastic. One of the best, most effective horror’s I have seen this year. The premise is simple, a rookie officer is starting her first shift, covering the last hours, on her own, of a police station that is about to close. Everything has been transferred to the shiny, new station, so it is supposed to be an easy shift – but things don’t work out that way.
Again, it’s a simple set up, but sometimes simple is best. And this film gets the atmosphere and scares just right. Also, there is a cool little backstory woven in.
It’s not perfect (the ending wasn’t as strong as the preceding film), but then again, nothing is. But, without doubt, I’d say it is definitely worth your time.
Hope you all enjoy it!
– Lee
June 3, 2017
New Novel and Free Story Update
Hi all – first, an apology. I haven’t been keeping the updates to this site going as regularly as I should have. But, there is a reason for that: I’ve been working hard to get my follow up novel, The Demonic, and my next free story, Demon of Dunton Farm (a prequel to The Demonic), ready for release.
The Demonic is coming on well, and will be going off to an editor the week after next. Hopefully, this will allow me to get the book out early July, if things go well. And the first draft of my next free story, Demon of Dunton Farm, is progressing nicely as well. The first draft is almost done, so I plan on getting it revised and finished whilst The Demonic is out for editing, and released thereafter. I did hope to have the free story ready before now, but in hind-sight, that probably wasn’t realistic.
But the good news is that both books are getting there! So please bare with me, just a little longer.
Also, today is the last day that Horror in the Woods (my first book) is on sale at 99c / 99p. As of tomorrow, it will go up to $1.99 / £1.99, then, on the 8th, back up to its usual $2.99 / £1.99.
Horror in the Woods – Amazon US
Horror in the Woods – Amazon UK
And, whilst I’m on, I’d like to throw out a big thank you to everyone who has bought the book! I have no frame of reference (with this being my first book), but currently it’s sitting at rank 4,606 on the Amazon Kindle store! Granted, that has a lot to do with the current sale, but I’m still over the moon.
Hopefully, the follow up book, The Demonic, won’t disappoint.
– Lee
June 1, 2017
Horror in the Woods – only 99c / 99p!
Guess what?
Horror in the Woods has just started on a Kindle Countdown deal – so there is no better time to pick it up! The price won’t last long, before going up to $1.99 / £1.99, then, after that, back to full price. So, if you are undecided the book, now is the prefect time to try it!
– Lee
