C.A. Verstraete's Blog, page 32

Lizzie Borden #Ghost #Horror Story Updates!

Yay!  My historical ghost story, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen

, hit the top 100 in the Ghost category! 

The book is  on sale for 99 cents to March 18!

** This is cool! Certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be ranked next to Stephen King! He's at  #75 and 76!  








And... Descent Into Darkness , the anthology I'm in with a dozen other authors, hit #1 Bestseller in Horror Anthologies!  (It was at under #200 rank overall.)  Also 99 cents, so get it fast!

What Did Lizzie Borden's Doctor Think? #horror #mystery

** The Haunting of Dr. Bowen - Kindle SALE, 99 cents. March 12-18 **
* And... also get Descent into Darkness - also 99 cents! 

Imagine the shock... Dr. Seabury Bowen, neighbor and physician to the Borden family, was driving his carriage home after 11 a.m., Thursday, August 4th, 1892 and gets home to shocking news. His wife, Phoebe, meets him at the screen door, telling him Lizzie came over and says her father was killed!

He rushes over, and despite being a doctor, comes upon a ghastly scene--his former patient and longtime neighbor Mr. Andrew Borden lying dead on the parlor settee, his face gashed and bloody. He is among the first visitors on the scene, as well as the first doctor. He later learns that the 32-year-old younger daughter, Lizzie, and the maid, Bridget Sullivan, are the only ones home at the time of the murder. Then, the stepmother and Mr. Borden's wife Abby Durfee Borden, is found dead, lying in an upstairs bedroom/sewing room, also bashed in the head. 

The doctor finds himself in the middle of what becomes "the crime of the 19th century." His recorded testimony is the only time he shares his story of what happened that morning.

But what did he really think? Was he shaken, maybe even haunted by the horrific, and most unusual, murders?

GET HIS VIEWPOINT!

In The Haunting of Dr. Bowen, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River, I share the doctor's point of view, and how the murders, and other events, may have affected the doctor. Did Fall River's past tie into the city's bloody legacy? (Light horror. This is a companion book to my book,  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter,  but without the zombies.)

About the book:

Dr. Seabury Bowen—physician to the infamous Lizzie Borden—swears he’s being stalked by spirits, though his beloved wife thinks it’s merely his imagination. But the retired doctor insists that neither greed nor anger provoked the recent sensational axe murders in Fall River. Rather, he believes the city is poisoned by bad blood and a thirst for revenge dating back to the Indian and Colonial wars.

Now, two years after the Borden murders, Dr. Bowen is determined to uncover the mysteries stirring up the city’s ancient, bloodthirsty specters. Can he discover who, or what, is shattering the peace before Fall River runs red? Or will he be the next victim?

Part mystery, part love story, The Haunting of Dr. Bowen reveals the eerie side of Fall River as witnessed by the first doctor on the scene of the legendary Borden murders.


* Read his preliminary testimony  - * See the timeline of events

 
** Plus: more HORROR. Descent Into Darkness, the anthology I have a story in with 12+ other authors, is on sale for 99 cents! 

New #Thriller & #Zombie News!

Fantastic News!!


 First -- my writer friend and USA Today Bestselling Author Jean Rabe has an amazing new novel, The Bone Shroud, now available on pre-order! Love this title and what a  phenomenal cover! 

 Think Italy, relics and thrills!

About  The Bone Shroud :

Irem Madigan’s wedding trip to Rome turns into a desperate search for historical relics, and a struggle to stay ahead of a killer.

Irem, an archivist at the Chicago Field Museum, flies to Italy to be the “best man” in her brother’s wedding. He’s marrying an archaeologist who lures Irem into a centuries-old mystery.

Unfortunately, there are other players in the game, and some of them are playing deadly. Can she survive and uncover the ancient secrets?

** Can't WAIT to read it. 

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Book NOTES:



I've been really really busy, finishing up Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2 and getting other stuff done. Yes, I am writing the last few paragraphs and will send it to beta readers soon. I'm a little behind, nothing new, but catching up! 

In the meantime the cover is being planned. OH WHAT A COVER IT IS!  You're gonna be amazed!!!! Think bold and zombies!! It's pretty, and pretty striking!


A preview will be coming SOON! Oh, you have to sign up for my newsletter to see it when it's near time and to enter my contests. Sign up in the box on top of the main website page (not the popup if you get that.) 

Curious? If you don't want any spoilers as book 2 continues the story after the trial, BUY  Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter on Kindle....  There will be more news coming on this, too. 

* And some fantastic sales are coming in the next week. 
Stay tuned!!! 

#Zombie #Horror Title Contest!

Yes, I'm brain dead. haa!



Okay, finishing up on Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2 - getting there and... I need a short title idea. One or two words or a short phrase for the main title is good.

Got one??? Here's your chance!  Give me a suggestion and get a chance at winning a copy of the book once it's finished. Oh, there'll be several chances to win... so comment or email me those ideas!!! You can contact me via the website.

Still writing.... #zombie

Yes! I was working on the - last chapter - yesterday of Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter 2. (If you're new here, see my website for info on Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter. )

Just have to fill in some things... Unless it goes longer and I feel like another chapter should be split. These are pretty short chapters at the end to keep it snappy. I split a couple as the chapter ended on an exciting part then. 

Have to fill in some blanks then, add some color and do some checking before I ask for Beta Readers!! Anyone interested? I also need someone who knows Gaelic/Irish (afraid to depend on Google translate) to check some lines for me. I'll credit you in the book and send you a finished e-book.

But have a couple non-fiction stories to work on between, too, which might slow me up a little bit. Hopefully not!

It's starting to get in good shape! Stay tuned!!

New #Horror Fiction, Women in Horror, Sirens Call Mag

The 6th annual Women in Horror issue of the Sirens Call Magazine is now out!

Great free fiction. I've got a flash story I updated a bit and renamed as The Place of Honor (by C.A. Verstraete.)  * Download the pdf directly here.

Enjoy! 

New Romero #Zombie Film LP #vinyl

Something unique!



Waxwork Records is releasing the first soundtrack LP release to the 1978 George Romero film, Dawn of the Dead . The music was performed by Italian filmmaker Dario Argento collaborators, GOBLIN. This is a double-album release in cool "zombie" colors and is part of a Zombie Trilogy. Ships 2/27 (but is marked sold out!) There is a two-song sample at the site.

Writing & Lizzie Borden updates! #horror #zombies

What's new this week: 

* New review of   Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter at FangFreakinTastic Reviews. 4 fangs! (love the little logo, haaaaa!)   Yeah, I'm easily amused! 


Lizzie 2 News: Yes!!! I am about 2 chapters from the end! Then I have to go back, fill in some things I needed to check, do some editing, and make sure all the loose ends are tied up. It's moving along!! It will be very different since this is beyond the trial now, but I think it has some interesting twists!! A little mystery, some romance, and of course, zombies! And some answers to previous questions.... Details to come!



* Cool! A special will be coming up soon for the Descent Into Darkness anthology, which will be featured on BookBub! (It includes my story, Thirteen Horses.) Stay tuned for details!!

There should be some short story news soon and I am sending out a couple others I have good feelings about, so we'll see. Stay tuned!

Monday Lizzie Borden Meme

It's Monday! So just a few vintage newspaper links and a meme to start the week!

Reward offered by Lizzie and her sister. I included this in my book, Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunte r.


Lizzie in court during her trial.

New #Horror Lovecraft-Inspired Figure! #Zombie

Had to share this!


Saw this on The Daily Dead - Herbert West Re-animator Clothed Action Figure (8" tall)  and accessories. Pretty wild! 

I admit that I haven't read much from HP Lovecraft. Here are scans and copies of the Lovecraft short story the figure is based on, Herbert West-Reanimator, originally published in 1922. I'm going to have to read this.  

It's also included in this collection:  Zombie Stories of HP Lovecraft - Watch the Reanimator movie clip from 1985.