Charlie Morgan's Blog, page 3

Stay Tuned For Some Exciting News

I will be announcing a new project on Saturday, March 28th during my book signing at GreeneMan's Treasures. Immediately following that event, the news will be posted here.

Goodbye, my friend

I lost a dear friend this morning. Jasper was a Miniature Teacup Chihuahua who belonged to my grandmother. After she was killed in the car accident in 2005, we ended up with the little guy. He was a great dog who loved everyone and everyone loved him. The house definitely feels much emptier now. He will be greatly missed.

Goodbye, my friend.

To everyone who has commented on the facebook post, I thank you all from the bottom of my heart. I have surrounded myself with a group of truly fantastic people. Today has been rough, but you all helped make it a little easier. Thank you.

The Hangman's Lullaby - Out Now!

Hey, guys. Lots of stuff going on in this post. The coming days are going to be pretty exciting!

I'm very happy to announce that my new book, THE HANGMAN'S LULLABY AND OTHER HORRORS, is now available on KINDLE and SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK.

- synopsis -
Amazon.com Best Selling Author Charlie Morgan returns with a new collection of tales to make your blood run cold.

THE HANGMAN'S LULLABY - A desperate act of revenge transforms into a successful business venture for a man in the old west. Life is good, but he will soon learn the horrific consequences of making a living in death.

PROWL - After learning that he has a life threatening illness, a young man and his friend set out for one final fishing trip in the North Carolina mountains. When a violent car crash leaves them stranded and seriously injured in the middle of nowhere, they must work together in order to survive. But the nightmare is far from over. Something is lurking in the woods. Watching, waiting and hungry.

THE WILDS - A prequel to the award-winning Sticks And Stones.

HERE BE DEVILS - While staking out his barn in attempt to ward off coyotes, a man makes a horrific discovery.

Also contains the poems THRENODY and BOOGEYMAN

Special Edition Paperback contains
A Cold Night In Fouke (first time in print)
Carcass
and Carcass II: Bloodstorm (first time in print)

I will be signing copies at Greeneman's Treasures in Hendersonville, NC on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 5 - 7 pm. If you're in the area, swing by and say "hello!" I will also be making an announcement about an upcoming project that I'm extremely excited about!

Hope to see you there.

Here's the official press release
ContactPattie GreeneTelephone828-606-8834Cell828-606-8834Emailgreenemanstreasures2013@yahoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEMarch 23, 2015Greeneman’s treasures hosts Local best selling Horror Author, Charlie Morganfor his new book Launch and signing Hendersonville, NC, March 23, 2015– GreeneMan’s Treasures, located at 2000 Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville, announces a rare Book Signing Event by WNC’s own Charlie Morgan on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 5 -7 PM at our shop. Mr. Morgan will be signing books available for sale ($5.99) at the Event and on Amazon.com. All are welcome to come out and mix and mingle and meet the Author. Refreshments will be served.We at GreeneMan’s Treasures are so proud to present, our friend, Charlie Morgan with the much anticipated release of his latest published work, The Hangman’s Lullaby,” says Pattie Greene, Co-owner and Proprietor of GreeneMan’s Treasures.About the Author: Charlie Morgan, a WNC native, is an Amazon.com Best Selling Horror Author. He is a lifelong horror fan and cryptozoology enthusiast. For the past ten years he has also served as a fireman for Green River Fire and Rescue. Charlie is the author of numerous short stories and novellas, including the best sellers: Sticks and Stones, and A Cold Night in Fouke.“Slick Gothic Pulp with gusto that is fun and goes down smooth… Charlie Morgan captures the drudgery of small town life quite nicely.” - Chip Fehd of Buyzombie.comGreeneMan’s Treasures is a locally owned and operated Thrift Store featuring Antiques, Furniture and so much more, gratefully serving Henderson and surrounding counties for nearly 2 years.    # # #If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Pattie Greene at 828-606-8834 or email at greenemanstreasures2013@yahoo.com.

Getting Back in the Swing of Things

As we are about to say farewell to 2014, I, for one, am ready to tell it to go to hell. It has been a very long and arduous twelve months that have brought more than a fare share of struggles. Any stories that I had been working on were put on hold in order to tackle some serious issues, including some harsh health issues.

Now that things are settling down and I've had some time to actually go back to work, I'm pleased to announce that, at long last, my werewolf story PROWL will be released in the coming weeks. Below is the updated cover for your viewing pleasure. Keep your eyes nailed to the wall of this space for the official release date and pre-order information.

More to come soon.

New Beasties On The Way

First of all, thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes (even the ones who sent spiders...*grumble grumble* asswipes).

There's been so much going on around here that I really haven't had time to be around as much as I would like. I am happy to report that there's some light at the end of the tunnel and things should be back to normal very soon.

Tomorrow is October 1st (Halloween is just around the corner!) and is also the first anniversary for A Cold Night In Fouke. I couldn't be more happy with the way it's been received. It has been my biggest seller and best reviewed effort to date. Needless to say, the venture into YA territory paid off and there will be more of those to come.

In between working out some things at home, I've been working on the final stages of editing Prowl, my first werewolf story. That should be seeing release in the near future.

I'm still working on my first nonfiction book. As of right now it's untitled but will be a Bigfoot field guide. I would say that its about 85% complete.

Next up is a new novella called Bestial. I'm just going to tease you with it for now. I will say that it's something different and definitely explores the darkest depths of human nature. Possibly the most disturbing thing I've ever written.

And finally, my friend Darren Barker has just released a new novel entitled Deadly Sexual Trance. Cover art by the handsome bastard known as Charlie Morgan.
}:-)~
Be sure to pick it up on your next Amazon raid.

That's about all I have for the time being. I hope you guys are doing well and will talk with you soon.

BEFORE THE DAWN: S.A.S. 2 SAMPLE

I've been working on something for quite a while. With any project, there's always snags along the way, but with this particular book, I would be willing to say cursed. It's been almost two years since Sticks And Stones was released, and since then I've been promising a sequel. Fast forward annnnddd... glitches, false starts, hair loss, ditched drafts, rickets, insomnia etc etc. For the longest time, it just seemed like it was doomed. I know how much you guys liked the original and I wanted to deliver something that would live up to that and, with a little luck, surpass it. There's been several drafts that I've abandoned because I just felt that it wouldn't live up to what you guys want. Yes, I know it's "write the story you'd want," but that wasn't happening either. They felt rushed and watered down and I wasn't about to deliver that to you guys. Not a chance in hell. But now... we've got something! As we say in North Carolina, "I believe that dog'll hunt!" I'm currently working on a draft that I am very proud of and I don't think you'll be disappointed. There's some new characters coming aboard as well as some familiar faces. Also, you'll be getting a deeper look at the creatures themselves and going inside their heads for a while. This installment will also be longer - novella length, at least. Now, as promised on my Facebook page, here is a free sample chapter. Let me know what you think in the comments and please feel free to share this around. Welcome back to Lakewood, North Carolina. We'll be starting our tour on the Lowe Road. Sit back, relax and please, for God's sake, don't feed the animals! BEFORE THE DAWN: STICKS AND STONES PART II FREE EXCERPT ©2014 Charlie Morgan (violators will be butchered and fed to pet sasquatch - or forced to listen to a Matt Moneymaker lecture, depending on mood) PROLOGUE Jami Sroka kicked her shoes from her aching feet and collapsed to the couch. Since taking over her father's orchard in the wake of his retirement, she had barely had any time for herself. That's changing this weekend, by God, she thought, leaning back. Tomorrow, Tim and I are going out. I don't give a rat's ass what we do or where we go, but we're going to have fun and I don't want to see one goddamn apple all weekend! She flipped through the channels on her television, only half paying attention to what was on. Really, all she was looking for was some background noise to fall asleep to. Just going to crash on the couch tonight. Tootsies are way too sore to tackle the stairs. Again, Jami thought of Tim. They'd been together for a little over a year and it was the happiest she'd ever been. There was something about him that was truly special. He was the only guy that honestly got her and always made her feel like she was on top of the world. Last fall, Tim had taken a job as a long-haul trucker to earn some extra cash. There was a nice house in the Shadowbrook subdivision that they had both fallen in love with. It was a two story house with a beautiful view and "room to grow" Tim had said, trying to be subtle about the possibility of children in their future. "It's great, isn't it?" Tim had asked during their walkthrough with the realtor. "Just think, honey, if we work hard and save up enough cash for about a decade, one day, we may be able to afford the gas to drive up here and look at this place," he said jokingly and earning a playful punch to his shoulder. Things were going well and fast. With Tim driving and Jami running the orchard, they almost had enough to cover the down payment. It only added to her excitement for tomorrow. Tim would be back for his birthday and Jami had a nice, romantic evening planned for him. She hoped he liked the present she'd gotten him. "Shit," Jami said, sitting up with a hint of panic in her voice. The present! In her rush to get home, she'd forgotten to take it home with her. It was still sitting on the desk in the office. "No... aw, fuck a duck!" Ignoring the aches and pains, she rose from the couch and slipped her shoes back on. She had to go back tonight. Tim would be home early in the morning and she wanted it there when he walked in the door. Sure, she could swing by the next day and give the surprise to Tim on the way to dinner, but that would dilute her plans. She wasn't setting foot in that damn place this weekend. This was their weekend! ***** Jami's car silently rolled north on Highway 225. Just before the entrance to the Lowe Road, a bright yellow sign that read SROKA'S ORCHARD - 50 YARDS AHEAD and a blue arrow pointing the way. Her headlights illuminated a large, red building that resembled an old tyme barn on the side of the road. Behind the building was a steep hill, overgrown with kudzu-choked trees that resembled gnarled hands reaching for the building with their talons. Beyond the trees was the Lowe Road. It was late and the place was deserted. The only sound came from a light breeze that whispered among the leaves. Jami didn't like it there at night, not one bit. It was too close to that place where those loggers were killed. The summer before, a logging crew was hired to clear a large plot of land to make room for a new subdivision. It was supposed to be high end real estate that would overlook the valley below. She had heard that there were some big names already interested in buying homes - a golf pro and an actress supposedly had already made offers. The project was a big deal. It would've provided jobs and a much needed economic boost. Everything had the greenlight until they found the bodies. When the crew didn't return from their shift, a supervisor was sent to see what was going on. He brought a deputy with him when nobody answered his repeated calls. The whole ordeal was heavily documented in the papers for weeks. The entire crew had been found torn apart and partially eaten. There was also thousands of dollars in equipment damages. The official report had stated that it was an animal attack, most likely the work of a bear. Jami had lived in Lakewood her entire life. She knew there were bears in the area but attacks were rare enough to be almost nonexistent. It didn't sound right to her. A single bear taking out an entire logging crew just didn't sit well with her. She pulled in next to the door and shut off the engine. With a deep breath to steady herself, she stepped out and raced to the door. She had the key in the lock and the door open in record time. Not wanting to take any more time than necessary, she ran to the office, scooped the bag into her arms and was on her way back out. Through the windows above, the trees danced in the wind, under soft moonlight, casting ghostly shadows on the cement floor. She used the light to illuminate the keys in her hand. "Almost done," she whispered. A shadow moved across the floor, something large and bulky with a distinct human shape. A whimper caught in her throat and the sound of glass breaking ripped away the silence. Something fell from the gaping hole from the window and landed behind Jami. She tried to run but was slapped from her feet, sending her flying through the air and crashing against a wooden crate. Dazed, she tried to stand. A strong, musty scent burned her eyes and nostrils. Something stood above her, glaring at her crumpled form with bright amber eyes that resembled a wildfire. Jami screamed and the creature charged.

Indie Writers Unite

It's been a while since I've posted a rant. There's been lots of talk about the new wave of authors hitting the shelves and most of them are independent. If you're an indie author, you're, in many cases, looked upon as if you've been infected by some hideous plague or just given a dismissive, "oh."

Independent authors aren't real authors. They're just no talent hacks that are flooding the market with garbage. To that, I must say... HORSE SHIT!

Yeah, there's lots of stuff floating around by independents that are pretty bad, on the other hand, there's a vast amount of amazing work being done by some incredible new voices. If you don't have a major publisher on the spine of the book, does that automatically make it sub-par? I hate to be the one to point it out, but major publishers release crap, too. When it comes to awards, indie authors are frequently left out. Why? Would the AMPAS ignore a groundbreaking film and snub it at the Oscars because it was indie? No way.

I believe indie authors deserve a lot more respect than they are getting. Those authors work just as hard as any other writer working today. In fact, I would say they work even harder. They don't have a publishing house backing them and doing all the groundwork. The indie does it all. I've even noticed some big name authors making the transition away from publishers to taking it on alone.

Just because there is, or isn't, a publishing logo on the spine, doesn't add or detract quality. We've always been told, "it's what's inside that counts." One should never judge a book by it's cover or an author by his/her publisher or lack thereof.

Lilly Dean book review

LILLY DEAN: FREAKED OUT SERIES
by
LORI SAFRANEK

Lilly Dean is a snake charmer with an unusual gift. Her talents soon lead her to the Steiner Freakshow - the best show on Earth. After finally finding a place where she feels a sense of belonging, Lilly and her and her act makes quite a mark on the audience and her fellow performers. All is going well until a shadow from her past comes calling.

I picked up this story on a whim. I didn't realize, at first, that it was a later installment of a series. No problem though. The story stands wells on it's own and you're left wanting more from the unique cast of characters. Luckily there's previous installments that delve further into their lives and more stories are still to come. The author did a fantastic job making the characters believable and the reader connects with them almost instantly.

I'm very much looking forward to the other acts at the Steiner Freakshow and will be eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Click HERE to get your copy now

Bones of Willow Lake - book review

BONES OF WILLOW LAKE
by
Rhiannon Mills

I had the pleasure of reading this book about a year ago, long before the initial release. I wasn't sure what to expect as I typically don't read paranormal romance. From the very beginning, I was drawn into the world weaved by Mills and found a tale that was something much more than I had ever expected. Bones of Willow Lake has plenty of eerie atmosphere, genuine tension and even a few laughs to accompany the romance. I highly recommend this book, even if, like me, you're not a reader of this type of book. The storytelling is superb and it will hook you and drag you down into the murky depths of Willow Lake!

Click HERE to get your copy now!

Richard Laymon - A Tribute

Being a writer, I'm often asked the question, "who's your favorite author?" Most of the time, that can't be narrowed down to just one person. For me, that list could go on and on until I've named 80% of the authors I've read. So I decided that I would provide a look at one particular author who holds a place of honor in my abode.

As you pass through the threshold of my little corner of the asylum, to your left sits a tall, cluttered, shelf with a little of this and a whole lot of that (including a little, stuffed Creature From The Black Lagoon who guards the goodies). Mostly, what resides in the shelf are my books, the conquered worlds of so many talents that have helped shape my own stories in some way. The largest contributor in my library, scribe to so many worn, dog-eared, paperbacks, is the late Richard Laymon.

I first heard the name after reading Castaways by Brian Keene. Keene's book had been a tribute to Richard, serving as a sort of spin-off to Laymon's Beast House series. After reading what Keene had to say about the life and work of this man, I had to seek out at least one of his books to see what he was like.

Several months later, I found myself sifting through a used book store in Flat Rock, North Carolina and happened to catch the name "Laymon" emblazoned in gold along the spine of a well thumbed book. What I had found was the novel COME OUT TONIGHT. I devoured the book with an intensity that I had never experienced, finishing it in just a few hours. From that moment on, I was hooked on the literary equivalent of crack, doing whatever I could to find more works from the macabre genius and feed my newfound addiction.

That was probably four or five years ago. Since then, I've found some of the greatest, most thrilling, disturbing, fucked up and fantastic novels I've had the pleasure of reading. The Beast House series, The Traveling Vampire Show, One Rainy Night and The Woods Are Dark are just a few personal favorites.

I still haven't read all of his works. Some are out of print and require a little further snooping, but for me as a reader, that's part of the fun. It becomes a treasure hunt, in many ways and leads to a satisfying end.

In recent years, Richard Laymon has grown in popularity and has gained a whole new generation of ravenous fans, including me. Sadly, he's no longer here to be able to enjoy the newfound success and praise. However, he lives on through the written word and we, as fans, colleagues etc., owe him a great deal of thanks for all the amazing stories that he left behind so we could get our fix as book junkies.

R.I.P., Richard.

P.s. as of this writing, I'm in the middle of reading After Midnight and loving it!

Visit the official Richard Laymon website by clicking http://rlk.stevegerlach.com/