Eric Butler's Blog, page 20
August 25, 2021
In the beginning ...
When I was writing last week's post about movies that may have influenced my journey as a horror fan, I had another idea. I am going to focus on a handful of horror movies from every year of my life - and where to find them. Some years there may be 5 others 20. I may even miss a few. So if you have a favorite movie I glossed over or ignored, please let me know in the messages or hunt me down on Facebook.
Of course, I wasn't hitting up the theaters as a newborn so for the first 4 to 5 years I will be speaking of movies I saw either on cable or from the local video rental stores when I was older. Kids today don't get just how mind-blowing it is to simply reach out through the cloud and find about any movie you may want to watch at any given time.
Back in my day...
There were 4 ways to watch movies: at the theater, rent them on VHS, watch them edited for TV and basic cable, or get them uncut on premium cable(this was HBO at first with The Movie Channel, Showtime, and Cinemax coming a little bit later).
Unlike today you couldn't go to a channel's app and stream any movie at any time. You had to get a TV guide or check the local paper to see what was coming up for the week.
But you could set up the DVR and then watch it whenever you wanted right?
Aren't you cute?
No, you had to sit there and watch it from start to finish. Although you could tape it on VHS and watch it later ... even pause like a magician. I'm sure most people my age had several VHS tapes with 2 to 3 movies on them that had their favorite movies and most likely a ton of crazy 80s commercials.
Unlike basic cable today, which seems to show endless amounts of Law and Order, there was a time that the main stations played MLB, NBA, sitcoms from the 50s-70s, and blocks of cartoons and movies. TNT, USA, and TBS were the main stations to find huge blocks of horror movies on Friday nights, Saturday mornings/afternoon, and a random Tuesday or Wednesday depending on what season was in play. You would find 2-10 movies that fell into a sub-genre of horror that allowed you to grow your knowledge of obscure and often terrible movies.
But sometimes you discovered gold. The other way to find some amazing movies was to get a ride - or in my case walk for about an hour - and go to the rental place. Now I was a lucky kid whose parents filled out a card that gave me carte blanche to rent anything in place.
FYI this was in deep south Alabama so there was no back room.
So any time I could scrape together a couple of bucks or my mom wanted to reward me, I headed to the video store to find a new horror gem or rent the newest Nintendo game available. For those who might not know, you could keep older movies/games for 3-5 days without paying any extra. So I hung out in the actual sections more often than not - plus New Releases were mostly for Friday viewings if you weren't heading to an actual theater.
I spent 2nd through 10th grade in Alabama. I lived on the Army base Ft Rucker until my parents divorced while I was in 7th grade and then my mom and I moved to a neighboring town, Enterprise. That was cool with me because they were the only town with a movie theater within a 30-40 minute drive - excluding the one on the base of course.
Not just a movie theater in fact, but 3.
They were owned by the same company, but they were spread across the town to fit into preexisting buildings I assume. 2 of the theaters were in strip malls that faced each other and were divided by the largest street in town. I wish I could remember for sure, but I think each one had 2 movie screens each. Then a little farther down the way, near an old Psycho-styled motel, was a "newer" theater that had 4 screens. I have fond memories from all 3 - and yes there was a card at each one with a note to let me go see whatever. My mom was tired of having to get out of the car to buy my ticket.
So this quick peek into how we old-timers may have consumed our movie content has rambled on way longer than I expected. I feel like I need to end this here because any more would just sound like bragging. The movie poster above gives you a hint to the biggest horror movie of 1975, and it will join a list of about 10 more this Sunday as I roll out the first post of my newest project.
Okay, just one more ... yes, there was a Shoney's in front of theater #2 (screens 3 & 4).
August 23, 2021
Future Plans
Keep an eye out here and on my Facebook page to get more information as it becomes available.
Another great review for the audiobook of The Shadow Within.
Click to check it out below
US - Click Here
UK - Click Here
Or join the Horror Nerds page on Facebook to see if you can win a copy. You will need to join the group and follow the instructions on the post for the contest.
The Pope Lick Massacre audiobook is being worked on right now! I was able to partner up with the same amazing narrator, Micah Cottingham. What I've heard so far makes me think this will be even better than Shadow and she's amazing on my first book.
I've also heard the first 15 minutes of The Sins of the Past. While I am using a different narrator than Micah on this one, I'm also pretty sure this is going to be great. Once I get a little more audio, I will share it so you guys can meet the new narrator for my books based across the pond.
If you can't wait and want to read:
The Pope Lick Massacre -
The Sins of the Past
August 18, 2021
The Birth Of A Horror Fan
I'm looking to expand the blog a bit with a look back at the road I took to become the horror fan and author I am today. Within this journey, I will share some personal stuff and some of my favorite things that stood out in the world of horror, science fiction, and fantasy in both the world of film and the written word.
Today I am going to focus on a couple of movies that drew me to the world of horror. Ironically - using the real definition or Alanis Morissette's - my father played a huge role in my love affair with everything horror. The reason being, my father hated horror movies. He didn't enjoy any aspect of all the things needed to make a great horror experience. And yet, he planted the seeds of fascination with those things that live in the dark in my psyche.
So a few random notes on my childhood. My mother not only loved books, but she also loved to provide books for me to discover and enjoy. I cannot remember a time I didn't have some form of the written word in front of me. Now her parents were a bit odd, and restricted both her and her brother in the materials they were allowed to consume growing up. And while my mother wasn't handing me books for adults, she did not have the same hang-ups with allowing me to find my literary way when I branched out from the provided literature.
My father, who was a member of the Army, read military thrillers and non-fiction (both military and history). But his real passion - as I remember it - was the cinema. I am confident the love and reverence I feel for the movies comes from him. More importantly, he was no film snob and he enjoyed low-budget outside-the-box movies. He also seemed to feel the rating system was a mere suggestion and one never to take seriously.
I was born in 1975 in Germany at the U.S. Military hospital in Frankfurt. My father left the Army to only return a few years later to fly Huey's. We were sent back to Germany for my ages 4-8(-ish), before being stationed in Alabama at Ft. Rucker. My parents divorced when I was 12 or so but I was already fully immersed in the world of horror.
While VHS existed in my early childhood, it was a high-end item and not many people I knew had one. Also at this time, especially in Germany, there was no cable TV. I remember how big a deal it was to get cable when we got back to the states. It was also around that time we finally got a VCR as well. That player introduced us to a cornucopia of movies and gave my father a chance to show me some of the movies I missed because I was too young.
My father loved science fiction and fantasy movies, taking me to several amazing and sometimes terrible(in a good way) movies throughout the early 80s. If anything horrific crossed over to these genres he was unfazed. However if a movie came out and told you it was horror, he refused to watch it. He would ignore Friday the 13th, Halloween, Fright Night, Elm Street, or anything else that was made to scare the audience.
So with that in mind here are the movies he excitedly watched with me or showed me in the years between 79-84 that helped introduce me to the element of horror in movies.
The first movie I remember giving me nightmares was 1981's Excalibur. We saw it in Germany at the base movie theater. He was so excited to see this one that he tried to take my best friend and his sister with us when he was supposed to be watching us. It was sold out so we went back later, just the 2 of us. This movie introduced me to a ton of material I wasn't quite ready for but every time nudity or sex popped up he would whisper to cover my eyes. A foolproof way to make sure I saw nothing.
That command was never issued for the action or fight sequences and I grew fascinated with how special effects worked to make us believe people were injured or killed. Now all of this was fine as a viewer but the horror came in when Merlin is betrayed by Morgana (Morgen La Faye) and trapped by the dragon. I dreamed of that scene every night for weeks. Years later my mom saw the movie and about brained my father for taking me to it since she put two and two together. :)
https://youtu.be/ttq_4FwvLJoOf course, I watch it now(and since that first time) I don't get why it scared me but it did. It most likely was a combination of the first time he takes her to his lair and this one that made such a lasting mark on my little kid brain.
If you want to watch the whole thing, you will have to rent or buy it unless you want to come over and have a movie night.
In the same year, Clash of the Titans came out. I remember standing in the PX and seeing a Clash of the Titans notebook and my dad saying he thought it was playing at the theater. We walked over and grabbed tickets. I instantly fell in love with this movie, but Calibos and his mother always scared me as a kid.
https://youtu.be/gvHeHDbyMFAMy father was quick to show me more Harryhausen films when we got our VCR. Which included the Sinbad movies and more of Harryhausen's amazing monsters.
[image error][image error][image error]All of these amazing Ray Harryhausen movies have to be bought or rented.
One of my first introductions to "man is the real monster" movies was Mad Max. Although I prefer Road Warrior to this one, it still does a great job of instilling terror of your fellow man.
https://youtu.be/WTzuM8BF1_4You can catch it on HULU
The final 2 movies are horror movies, but since they involve aliens they trump his no horror movies rule. First up is my favorite movie The Thing. The first time I watched it with him, I spent 40-60% of the time behind the couch peeking over the top or the side to catch all the gory goodness. This might be where my love for scary movies was truly born.
https://youtu.be/W_4sT0Aj4UkYou can stream with Starz if you have it.
Finally, one of his favorite movies was Alien. It couldn't be more of a horror movie, but in his head, it was a man vs beast kind of movie I guess. His favorite scene was the chest-burster. He laughed and laughed about it, bringing myself and a friend in to watch just that scene so we could share in the laughter. I don't remember laughing but it was very cool.
https://youtu.be/nPQ7om598OMYou can watch this on Prime and tubi
Looking back at these memories, I can see how my philosophy on horror was developed and plays out in my writing today. I see horror in everything, in every genre, and every situation. Now there may be outside forces adding to the situation, but there isn't a movie, show, or book I can't easily see the path needed to make it into a horrific situation. Everything I write is based on that thought process. Even when I'm not attempting to write horror, it will always show up because I always seem to find it hiding between the words.
I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside my head and if you haven't seen these movies, you will check them out...
August 16, 2021
The Shadow Within Audiobook - chapter fix at bottom
The audiobook is out for The Shadow Within. I know I'm biased as this is my baby, but the narrator knocks it out of the park. I was so lucky to find Micah Cottingham in 2019 to do the book trailer reading but even luckier to get her to read the whole book once I decided to offer that option. She's already working on The Pope Lick Massacre and everything I've heard has been amazing. I've included a chapter sample below for you to get an idea of her take on the book.
A relentless evil possessing an already depraved man... gruesome and perverse acts of brutality... Will anyone survive? Centuries ago the natives captured and imprisoned a life force of pure evil and unending hunger. Thirteen years ago an eight-year-old boy woke the darkness. It grows in strength every day and now the boy is a man. A man skilled in terror and violence, the very things the darkness needs to finally break free. Jill, a city girl at heart, was surprised when the car came to a stop. Jack wasn't kidding when he said they were going to the boonies. A family vacation, her with Jack and his teenage kids, was not her idea of fun but Jill was ready to take the next step. She wondered if this trip was Jack’s way to say he was ready as well. As the man stalks through the countryside, unleashing panic and dread, will Jill be able to escape with Jack and his children? Or will the man soak the ground in blood and release … THE SHADOW WITHIN
https://youtu.be/ewJ4N3D6ogsThere was an issue with the website and at some point you may have gotten an early copy of the audiobook missing 5 minutes from chapter 22. If the correction didn't update on your audiobook, and you want to hear it, then you can jump over to The Shadow Within's page and scroll to the bottom. I've provided the link below to make it easier.
August 11, 2021
The Shadow Within Audiobook and the eBook Sale Continues...
Sale is still going on with my 2 extreme horror titles, The Shadow Within and The Pope Lick Massacre until Friday at midnight(Central). The Sins of the Past begins its sale on Wednesday. It is a supernatural Victorian horror story. Find details below...
The Shadow Within
Centuries ago the natives captured and imprisoned a life force of pure evil and unending hunger. Thirteen years ago an eight-year-old boy woke the darkness. It grows in strength every day and now the boy is a man. A man skilled in terror and violence, the very things the darkness needs to finally break free. Jill, a city girl at heart, was surprised when the car came to a stop. Jack wasn't kidding when he said they were going to the boonies. A family vacation, with Jack and his teenage kids, was not her idea of fun but Jill was ready to take the next step. She wondered if this trip was Jack’s way to say he was ready as well. As the man stalks through the countryside, unleashing panic and dread, will Jill be able to escape with Jack and his children? Or will the man soak the ground in blood and release…
THE SHADOW WITHIN
The Pope Lick Massacre
There are two types of people in Jefferson County: those who know the legend of the Pope Lick Monster and those who believe it. Before the night is over, Sam will have no choice but to join the believers.Since their mother’s death, Sam’s sole focus has been taking care of her younger brother, Kenny. Now Kenny’s Scout troop is missing, having never returned from the woods around Pope Lick. Sam gathers a group of friends to search for the boys and their Scoutmaster. With each step, they get closer to discovering the scouts aren’t the only ones in the woods this night.“The Pope Lick Massacre is a bold, brutal horror story that’ll remain in your mind long after you read it. This book is not for the faint of heart.” –Independent Book Review
The Sins of the Past
Once an ancient race of supreme beings ruled over the earth. Banished by the light centuries ago, one has returned. With the help of its disciples, it desires to plunge the world into a new age of darkness and horror.
Ephraim Godwin is searching for the truth about his family's disappearance. After conventional ways failed, he turned to the world of spiritualism, only to discover it filled with charlatans and tricksters. As a known skeptic, Ephraim fights to shine a light on those who prey upon others as he searches for the truth.
As Ephraim attends another séance, he discovers not everyone is a fraud and is drawn deeper into the world of the supernatural. With the help of noted spiritualist Zona Whitlock and famed explorer Doctor Livingstone, he hopes to stop this evil from consuming the world.
The audiobook is out for The Shadow Within. I know I'm biased as this is my baby, but the narrator knocks it out of the park. I was so lucky to find Micah Cottingham in 2019 to do the book trailer reading but even luckier to get her to read the whole book once I decided to offer that option. She's already working on The Pope Lick Massacre and everything I've heard has been amazing. I've included a chapter sample below for you to get an idea of her take on the book.
A relentless evil possessing an already depraved man... gruesome and perverse acts of brutality... Will anyone survive? Centuries ago the natives captured and imprisoned a life force of pure evil and unending hunger. Thirteen years ago an eight-year-old boy woke the darkness. It grows in strength every day and now the boy is a man. A man skilled in terror and violence, the very things the darkness needs to finally break free. Jill, a city girl at heart, was surprised when the car came to a stop. Jack wasn't kidding when he said they were going to the boonies. A family vacation, her with Jack and his teenage kids, was not her idea of fun but Jill was ready to take the next step. She wondered if this trip was Jack’s way to say he was ready as well. As the man stalks through the countryside, unleashing panic and dread, will Jill be able to escape with Jack and his children? Or will the man soak the ground in blood and release … THE SHADOW WITHIN
https://youtu.be/ewJ4N3D6ogsAugust 9, 2021
eBook Sale and Exciting News ...
Get ready for a week-long celebration as all 3 of my eBooks will be on sale for 5 days. The 2 extreme horror titles will be available from 8-9 to 8-13. My Supernatural Victorian Horror will be on sale from 8/11 to 8/15. You will save about 35-40% depending on which book you grab.
The Shadow Within
Centuries ago the natives captured and imprisoned a life force of pure evil and unending hunger. Thirteen years ago an eight-year-old boy woke the darkness. It grows in strength every day and now the boy is a man. A man skilled in terror and violence, the very things the darkness needs to finally break free. Jill, a city girl at heart, was surprised when the car came to a stop. Jack wasn't kidding when he said they were going to the boonies. A family vacation, with Jack and his teenage kids, was not her idea of fun but Jill was ready to take the next step. She wondered if this trip was Jack’s way to say he was ready as well. As the man stalks through the countryside, unleashing panic and dread, will Jill be able to escape with Jack and his children? Or will the man soak the ground in blood and release…
THE SHADOW WITHIN
The Pope Lick Massacre
There are two types of people in Jefferson County: those who know the legend of the Pope Lick Monster and those who believe it. Before the night is over, Sam will have no choice but to join the believers.Since their mother’s death, Sam’s sole focus has been taking care of her younger brother, Kenny. Now Kenny’s Scout troop is missing, having never returned from the woods around Pope Lick. Sam gathers a group of friends to search for the boys and their Scoutmaster. With each step, they get closer to discovering the scouts aren’t the only ones in the woods this night.“The Pope Lick Massacre is a bold, brutal horror story that’ll remain in your mind long after you read it. This book is not for the faint of heart.” –Independent Book Review
The Sins of the Past
Once an ancient race of supreme beings ruled over the earth. Banished by the light centuries ago, one has returned. With the help of its disciples, it desires to plunge the world into a new age of darkness and horror.
Ephraim Godwin is searching for the truth about his family's disappearance. After conventional ways failed, he turned to the world of spiritualism, only to discover it filled with charlatans and tricksters. As a known skeptic, Ephraim fights to shine a light on those who prey upon others as he searches for the truth.
As Ephraim attends another séance, he discovers not everyone is a fraud and is drawn deeper into the world of the supernatural. With the help of noted spiritualist Zona Whitlock and famed explorer Doctor Livingstone, he hopes to stop this evil from consuming the world.
The audiobook is out for The Shadow Within. I know I'm biased as this is my baby, but the narrator knocks it out of the park. I was so lucky to find Micah Cottingham in 2019 to do the book trailer reading but even luckier to get her to read the whole book once I decided to offer that option. She's already working on The Pope Lick Massacre and everything I've heard has been amazing. I've included a chapter sample below for you to get an idea of her take on the book.
A relentless evil possessing an already depraved man... gruesome and perverse acts of brutality... Will anyone survive? Centuries ago the natives captured and imprisoned a life force of pure evil and unending hunger. Thirteen years ago an eight-year-old boy woke the darkness. It grows in strength every day and now the boy is a man. A man skilled in terror and violence, the very things the darkness needs to finally break free. Jill, a city girl at heart, was surprised when the car came to a stop. Jack wasn't kidding when he said they were going to the boonies. A family vacation, her with Jack and his teenage kids, was not her idea of fun but Jill was ready to take the next step. She wondered if this trip was Jack’s way to say he was ready as well. As the man stalks through the countryside, unleashing panic and dread, will Jill be able to escape with Jack and his children? Or will the man soak the ground in blood and release … THE SHADOW WITHIN
https://youtu.be/ewJ4N3D6ogsAugust 4, 2021
A Flash of Apprehension
I found another story I wrote many moons ago - I'm pretty sure this one was done right out of High School. I remember thinking it was too risque to share at the time. The word count came in at just under 1000, and although I have added somewhere around 300 words, this week's story is for the most part the same throughout. I didn't write this for any reason other than it needed to be jotted down at the time.
For those easily offended, know there are sexual situations in this story to go with some cursing, and violence.
A full, white moon filled a starless night as Debbie made her way to the car. A cold wind blew from the north, slipping between her legs and causing her skirt to rise. Her hands shot down instinctively, hoping to stop the fabric from moving too high. The package she was carrying fell to the ground, shattering its contents.
"Shit," she barked as she squatted to open the box. Inside lay the remains of a vase, a gift for her grandmother. "Damn it .... now what am I going to do?" she grumbled to herself, closing the lid with a huff. As she stood, a hand gripped her shoulder, and she let out a startled scream.
"Crap - sorry, sorry, it's me," a young man said as the hand let go. She spun around, bringing her fists up as she learned in her self-defense course. Her eyes widened as her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment. The clerk from the store offered a shy smile and shrug before bending over to pick up the box.
"I'm glad I came out for a smoke when I did," he said as he made his way back to the store.
"Come on ... I can fix it." A doubtful look flashed across her face but after a moment, she rushed to catch up with him. He opened the door and waited, ushering her inside.
The heater hummed and the blast of warm air brought a smile to Debbie's lips.
"It feels great in here," she said as she slipped off her jacket.
She laid it over the counter as the clerk disappeared into the back. Her smile stayed on her face as she watched him walk. Mmm, nice ass. Donna twirled her skirt to the soft music coming from the radio behind the counter. Closing her eyes, she wrapped her arms around herself as she slowly danced to the song. A sudden cough brought her back to reality.
Debbie's smile widened while her cheeks flushed a bit in embarrassment. She slipped closer, still moving in beat with the music. She liked how his eyes were following her swaying hips, and she glided closer, only stopping because the counter was in the way.
"I found another one in the back," he stammered. "I'll tell the boss a kid broke the other one." He placed the vase on the counter next to Debbie's jacket before stepping past the counter and facing her.
"Oh, thank you," she gushed as she extended her hand. "My name's Debbie." He stared at it for a few seconds then reached out to gently take hers. She squeezed his hand softly, running her fingers down his palm as he pulled his hand away.
"Mine's John," he said with a sudden grin. She liked the way his smile took over his entire face and shined through his green eyes.
"I really wish there was a way to fully express my gratitude," she said, stepping closer.
A mischievous smile danced across her lips as she took his hands and placed them on her hips. She grabbed his belt buckle with her left hand and gently tugged on it. John's eyes widened, but he quickly pulled her close and pressed his lips against hers. Heat flooded her body, building in intensity in her groin as their kiss deepened. His hands slipped from her hips to her back and down to her ass. Debbie moaned into his mouth as he squeezed hard and pulled her tight against his growing excitement.
She'd never done anything like this before, but the roar of her building desire washed out the tiny voice urging caution as she pulled his shirt free before moving to the buckle. He pulled away, cheeks flushed red, and eyes wide in anticipation.
"Are you sure about this?"
Debbie could see the flash of apprehension on his face as if he worried if asking would break the spell. She giggled, pulling him closer to mash his lips against hers. Her tongue slipped into his mouth as their kiss grew more passionate. He slid his hands under her butt, lifting her until she wrapped her legs around his waist.
"Not here," John gasped, pulling his mouth free just long enough to speak before searching for her lips once again. He carried her past the counter and into the back. There was a small table in the room where he sat her down and moved his kiss to her neck. Debbie relaxed her legs, her skirt riding up as she scooted closer. "Give me a second ... I need to lock the door," he mumbled against her skin.
Just as he straightened, the bell rang signaling a customer. John swore as he tried to straighten his shirt. He put his finger to his lips and smiled as he took in Debbie's pout before hurrying to the front. I can't believe this. She wondered what the odds were of someone walking in at the exact moment the store was supposed to close. Better yet the exact moment I was going to end a very dry spell.
She slipped from the table, stretching her hands to the ceiling before turning and bending sharply at the waist to grab her ankles. A giggle slipped out as she imagined his surprise to coming back and finding her like this. Debbie flushed as her imagination continued, moving him from the doorway to just behind her; his fingers slipping under her skirt.
Debbie straightened with a groan of frustration. She wanted to feel his skin against hers. Shaking her head, she realized she needed it. She pulled her sweater over her head, tossing it to the side before reaching back to unclasp her bra. She kept the rest on, aware that no matter how brazen she felt at the moment it could pass. And yet the passion continued to burn until her groin ached with excitement. She pressed her hands against her naked belly, her fingertips lightly touching the top of her skirt's waistband. Should she remove them or let John choose?
His approaching footsteps answered the question. Her body trembled as she waited for his touch. "I hope you like surprises," she sung out, her voice thick with desire.
Debbie shuddered as his hands gripped her hips, pulling her tight against him. Her arms reached back, but he grabbed them at each wrist, turning it so they were pinned between their bodies. Her chest tightened in excitement, enjoying his taking control. His hands moved up her bare skin, stopping to rest gently on her shoulders.
"Oh John," she gasped, unsure how much more she could take.
Debbie slowly bent her head back, desperate to see her desire reflected in his face. Her eyes widened as the hands slid to her neck, their touch no longer gentle. Her scream cut short as the hands tightened roughly around her throat. The leering face of a stranger filled her vision.
His eyes shined with the madness reflected in the twisted smile covering his face. A raspy chuckle slipped past his lips as he leaned closer, pinning her between the table and his large frame. Her struggles lessened as he continued to squeeze the life from her. His lips pressed against her ear as stars filled her vision.
"Don't worry love," the man whispered. "This horrible business is almost over ... then we can have a bit of fun."
Debbie's eyes bulged as her lungs screamed for air. Just one more breath. The thought rang hollow as she sank into darkness.
© 2021 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved
August 2, 2021
Stuff happening
Exciting goings-on at Naked Cat Press this month.
First up, I'm excited to share that several of deadlines for the Donn, TX collection are scheduled for this month. The plan is to have it out by the end of the month for eBook and paperback with the audiobook(s) to follow right behind it.
This collection will be the foundation for all future stories. As we get closer to the release day, I will have more information detailing the new series and my plans for the next group of stories.
Speaking of audiobooks, all three of my books will soon be available through ACX on Audibles and iTunes. The Shadow Within is done and hopefully will be ready by next week. The Pope Lick Massacre is in production right now, and I hope to be able to share it with you by the end of the month. The Sins of the Past is in the audition stage. Once the narrator has been selected, I'll let you know the time frame for that volume will be.
I'm excited for you to hear the narrator, Micah Cottingham, of The Shadow Within and Pope Lick. She's captured the tone and voice of each project. Once we get closer, I'll have plenty to share. Keep an eye out for future release dates.
July 28, 2021
Never Underestimate The Power Of Love - A Story
Stumbled across this story I wrote for something in 2008. I think it may have been a contest or might have been for a writing exercise. It was during the time I was beginning to dip my toe back into writing before life swallowed up all my free time and energy. It wouldn't be until 2017 when I got back onto the writing horse and finished the first draft of The Shadow Within.
That being said, this was a bit rough. I spent the day cleaning it up a bit and hopefully making it a tad more enjoyable. If I remember correctly, the prompt/contest was for a regular publication, but I rarely can write something without injecting it with a bit of horror. There are adult themes and language in this story so, you've been warned...
Oh, and the story had to start with the 6 words, Never underestimate the power of love.
"Never underestimate the power of love, Doc," Jimmy whispered, leaning forward in his chair. Smoke billowed from his mouth as he exhaled, his eyes studying the floor. Doctor Nowell sat still, gazing at him with hooded eyes. The room stayed quiet as neither man spoke for quite some time. Sitting back, Jimmy let his legs stretch out, filling most of the space between them.
"Well doc, whatcha think...am I batshit crazy?" he asked raising his cigarette to his lips. He coughed a little as the smoke filled his lungs, "I never touched these things until they locked me in this here hospital. How's that for irony?"
Doctor Nowell said nothing, instead jotting a few notes down in the black notebook he carried around. Jimmy shot forward, his rear end barely staying in contact with the edge of his seat but unable to move any closer because of the handcuffs secured to the chair's arm. He strained in comical fashion, his head twisting and turning.
"Whatcha writin' now doc?"
The doctor looked up with a smirk and showed him, "A reminder to pick up eggs, and some milk."
Jimmy slid back as he let out a low whistle. "Guess I haven't made much of an impression."
The doctor's smile widened, "To the contrary Mr. Klomoth, you've made quite the impression...just not the one you hoped for. For the last five days, I've studied you trying your best impression of what you think is insanity. The state would rather you stand trial for what you did to that poor girl."
Jimmy offered a toothy grin but his unblinking eyes remained flat as the doctor stood.
"There has been nothing to dissuade me from making sure that happens," the doctor said with a curt nod before moving to the door.
"Uhh... fine ... I'll tell ya what you want."
The doctor's hand released the doorknob upon hearing Jimmy's words, and he turned to face him. "And what do you think I want."
Nowell would be surprised if Jimmy guessed correctly. His greatest desire was to be involved in one of those career-making cases that unlocked the door to celebrity. He expected a case like this to come decades into his career, but here was one, not a year out of his residency.
When he heard they needed someone to talk to the Creekside Cannibal, he did everything he could to secure the assignment. However, after five days of Jimmy pretending to be crazy, he began to think this wasn't one of those cases. The least he could do was give that girl's family some justice.
The silence built up, mimicking the sudden pressure in Nowell's gut. He's struggling with what to say next ... this is the most honest he's been yet. The doctor wondered if Jimmy would come right out and admit to killing the girl or continue to be coy. Nowell hoped for the latter, it would give him more for the book.
Jimmy waved towards the empty seat as he took another drag from his cigarette. With an exaggerated sigh, Nowell made his way back to his chair and sat. He ran the facts through his head as he let the silence continue to build.
They found Amy Miller's partially consumed corpse in a shallow grave about half a mile from the Creekside Trailer Park. With her teeth knocked out and her fingers gnawed off, they got lucky with a partial tattoo still visible on her bicep. Someone tried to burn it off, but either gave up or thought they did a well enough job. It took some doing but the police were able to identify her, which led them to Jimmy.
"You want to know about Amy," Jimmy whispered.
Nowell nodded, motioning for him to continue as he reopened his notebook. Flashing a sad smile, Jimmy took another drag, holding the smoke in a moment before letting it out to the side.
"As I was saying Doc ... Never underestimate the power of love. I never understood that until Amy. I ached for that girl, needed her day and night. We met at her aunt's backyard Fourth of July celebration. All she did was walk by, and I was hooked. That vixen was well aware, so she played a bit with me before admitting she was caught too."
Nowell noted the way Jimmy's eyes flashed in his notebook. Those dead eyes come alive when he speaks of her. It was the first time since meeting Jimmy that Nowell witnessed any signs of emotion in those dark orbs. Fishing out another cigarette, he lit it with the burning end of the other one before putting the stub out on the arm of his chair.
"We made it a year before shit hit the fan; all because she wanted to better herself or some nonsense. She was fine how she was and I told her that," he said with a sneer. "I made enough to cover the bills, and a woman should be home to take care of her man's...needs. Last thing I wanted was someone coming along and puttin' fool ideas in her head ..."
Nowell stopped writing and studied Jimmy. He seemed agitated, with flushed cheeks and tiny pinprick-sized pupils as he stared past the doctor. The cigarette sat untouched between his fingers becoming more ash by the second. He refocused on Jimmy's face when the man suddenly continued.
"Did I mention how much she liked to fuck? This week's been so crazy I couldn't remember," Jimmy said with a sly smile dominating his lips. "Probably why that first year was so ... so ... good. She would moan so loud when I stuck my ..." he trailed off as his smile widened. "But you don't want to know about that do ya doc? Our sexual activity, our ... perversions?"
"Correct," Nowell said in a strained voice, uncomfortable in the knowledge he very much wanted to hear more.
"How about some coffee? All this thinking about Amy's tasty hole got my mouth dry."
Nowell nodded as he rose, stepping quickly to the coffee pot and filling a paper cup about halfway. Jimmy's face darkened and his eyes flashed while his mouth curled into a snarl. He slammed his fists onto the arms of the chairs with a roar. The doctor froze, eyes locked on the man as he began to shudder.
"She was my everything," Jimmy said, his voice thick with emotion.
Nowell hurried to Jimmy hoping to not break the spell this emotional outburst produced. He took the offered cup and held it tight between his hands. Shaking slightly, Jimmy took a long slurp.
"Please go on," Nowell said as he sat down, motioning for Jimmy to continue.
"From that point on, she decided to try me at every turn. Making demands, tryin' to cut me off, bitchin' and moanin' when it didn't work," he said with a wink before continuing. "So maybe I started hittin' her a bit, but, Jesus Christ, her constant whining was drivin' me loony. I have a question for you, doctor. She forced me to teach her how to behave in a relationship ... drove me to take drastic measures. Isn't this her fault?"
Nowell stopped writing. Jimmy's chest heaved from the gulps of air he took while he shifted around in his chair. He was clearly agitated but Nowell needed more. He decided to nudge the man to see what happened next.
"Well, she's not blameless."
The statement hung between the two men. Jimmy's eyes closed to slits a moment while he studied the doctor. The silence stretched and sweat ran down Nowell's back and chest.
"Hot damn! I knew it," Jimmy howled as he sat up straight, pounding his fist on the chair's arm. "That bitch brought it on herself."
Nowell began to write some more in the notebook. After another slurp of coffee, Jimmy continued.
"Well the last time she needed a lesson ... well, I can't lie, I might have gone a step too far. But there was no call for her overreaction. Once she woke up she started stompin' around, screamin' at me, callin' me names. Then she threatened to leave ... 'cept it weren't no threat. So I reached out and grabbed her, beggin' her to stay. I mean hell, I don't beg for anything but there I was blubbering and promisin' her...well let's say there ain't a thing I wouldn't do. She turned to me, screamin' for me to let her go, so I did, but I told her ..." Jimmy stopped, and he looked off into the distance as if reliving the moment.
"I said, Please forgive me. I won't ever do it again. Our love was all encompassin' and that ... we were meant to be together forever. You know what she did? She laughed. I mean what a cold-blooded bitch. Here I was emptyin' my heart out, and she fuckin' laughed at me ... as if my word meant nothin'." Jimmy's voice was a whisper, his eyes wide as he stared past the doctor once again.
Nowell studied the word he had written repeatedly as Jimmy spoke, GUILTY. It was in different sizes and dominated the page. He couldn't let this man get away with his crimes. Amy deserved justice. The doctor glanced up when Jimmy cleared his throat. The smile on his lips sent a chill through Nowell.
Jimmy leaned forward again, "Whatcha writin' now? Still goin' to court huh?" He rubbed his handcuffed wrist with his free hand and sighed. "They didn't find much, did they? Just her head, an arm, and her spine ... with chunks still hangin'," Jimmy locked eyes with the doctor as he spoke.
Nowell went white. The police never released the exact details of the remains. Only the killer would know ... and Jimmy knows, exactly.
"I ... I was never told what they found out at Halpert Hill," he said, using the location they released in the papers.
"Come on Doc. She was a bit outside Creekside...out in the bushes, really under them. Damn dogs," he said with a sigh. "I'm tellin' you just like I told her, we were meant to be together. It was destiny. Funny thing about destiny, that night as I drank myself stupid I was watchin' TV and the damnedest thing came on." Jimmy finished his coffee, crumpled the cup, and tossed it at Nowell's feet.
The doctor leaned over to pick it up as Jimmy continued, "So some faceless voice was talking about how ancient people consumed men to take their strength ... to capture their soul. And I thought hell, Amy may have thought she could just end our love. But she was wrong. What we had was special. Here was the answer to fixin' things ... to truly connect with her."
The doctor slowly glanced up to stare at Jimmy. They were only inches apart now, the arm of the chair broken at one end. Jimmy grabbed Nowell by the collar and pulled him closer.
"Don't you understand, it was the only way for us to be together forever, the soulmates we were destined to be."
The doctor whimpered as Jimmy's lips brushed his ear. "But don't you worry none. I don't need much from you ... this will be mainly for show."
© 2021 Naked Cat Press. All Rights Reserved
July 26, 2021
Exciting news from Indie Horror's own, Lee Franklin
Lee is re-releasing her first novel Berserker: Green Hell with brand new cover art from Francois Vaillancourt - just beautiful. I'm sharing this in case you've missed her action-packed debut.
So what is it about? Here is the blurb...
Something lurks in the northern shadows of Vietnam.
Known as the Reapers, Pinny and his special group of soldiers are sent to collect dog tags from their fallen comrades only to uncover the sinister underbelly of the Vietnam War, and a monstrous secret beyond comprehension.
Pinny might survive the war, but can he save his humanity?
Here's my review on Goodreads and soon to be on Amazon - whenever they allow reviews on the new cover. Included here you can see the original cover...
If you want to check out a more in-depth review check out what the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviewer had to say - Click ,Here
The book will be available in paperback and for Kindle on August 1st, 2021. You can't preorder the paperback, but Kindle preorders will be delivered directly to your device.
Find it here - ,Berserker Preorder
What are you waiting for?
If you don't want to wait to check out Lee's work, she has a few others out there just waiting for you to check out.
A Novelette
Celebrating his twenty-first birthday in Thailand with his best mate Paul, Shane finds the perfect tattoo of a local deity, Nang Tani. He must have her at all costs.
When Nang Tani is unleashed, she comes with vengeance. Shane will learn that sins, like tattoos, cannot be washed away; not even with blood.
You can read on Kindle Unlimited or grab a copy for $.99. You can also order it in Paperback. Click ,here to check it out.
Lee is offering her short story, Sandgroper for free on Amazon and if you sign up on her website. I'd recommend signing up on her site as she will showcase exciting horror-themed news and reviews.
Blurb: Geologist Aron, is investigating the unexplained pinnacle formations on the West Australian Coast. A Sandstorm sweeps in from the Coral Coast and brings hell along for the ride.
Lee's Website: ,Here
Amazon Link: ,Here
I'm a big fan of Lee and I hope you give her stuff a look (especially if you are a fan of extreme horror).
