Charlie Morgan's Blog, page 5

Radio Interview About Upcoming Books, TV Protests and More!

I recently got to do an interview from Jackie Chin. I've done several shows in the past but this was the best so far. We all had a great time and lots of bull was shot about books, cryptozoology, butting heads with a major television network, Star Wars and much more.

Click HERE to give it a listen.

Back In The Field

During the writing of my current project, BEASTS OF THE FIELD: A GUIDE TO THE SOUTHERN BIGFOOT, I've gotten the chance to speak with quite a few people already. Some of these fine folks are people that I've looked up to for a long time and actually inspired me to get into the field of Cryptozoology. I've also had the chance to sit down with a few witnesses and taken their reports. Within the coming weeks, I'll be heading out to meet some of these people in person to visit some of the sites. It'll be my first trip out to investigate in quite a few years. Needless to say, I'm pretty excited about the days ahead. Plus it'll give me a chance to test some of the techniques that'll be in the book. With luck, maybe we'll come across some solid evidence.

Wish me luck, guys. I'll keep you posted and there should be some pictures on the way soon.

Shaggletooth: Free Story

SHAGGLETOOTH
a love story

CHARLIE MORGAN

©2013 Scarecrow Fields Publishing

Celia rubbed the goosebumbs on her arms as she stared out the train window. It had rained the entire trip and most of the scenic view was obscured by thick fog.

It doesn't matter, she thought. This only adds to the ambience and mystery of my little adventure.

The details of why she had left the comforts of the city had been kept to herself. She knew good and well that everyone would be worried about her. After all, she did slip away without a word. She considered leaving a note for her mother when she stole $300 from her purse, but time was running against her. If she intended to make the train, there wouldn't be time.

In her lap sat a well worn, dog-eared copy of Bleeding Heart by Edmund Mueller. The teen romance novel was a sensation that had swept the globe. Within those pages were centuries of heartbreak that befell a youthful-looking vampire named Stephen E. Mire. Stephen had given up all hope of ever finding a partner and contemplated suicide. Everything changed when he met a beautiful, young woman who saved his life and his very soul with her love.

Like any loyal fan, Celiajoined all the fan clubs and spent hours discussing her predictions, hopes and fears for the second book in the series. She became president of her local fan club branch just as news broke of film rights being sold to a major studio.

A few months back, Celia nervously penned a letter to the author. She included an excerpt of a fan fiction piece that she was thinking of posting to the group's website. Never in a million years did she ever expect a reply, but on a windy October morning, a letter arrived from Edmund Mueller. The surprises kept coming. Also within the envelope was a signed 8 x 10 glossy of the author and a note which cordially invited her to his home for the weekend. Celia's heart nearly stopped as she read. She couldn't believe her eyes! Her hopes withered when she thought of how she'd make the trip. Unlike many of her fellow fan club members, Celia was flat broke. Another, unseen, piece of paper flopped out and landed at her feet. Her blood pressure reached an all time high as she looked upon a train ticket that had been paid in full.

Celia still had a long ride ahead of her. She tried to sleep but her brain was working at 376 miles per hour in pure excitement. Before leaving, Celia did her homework to ensure that everything was legitimate. She compared the handwriting to samples she had found online and was satisfied it was real. She had no doubt of the authenticity of the signature. It was beautiful, flowing penmabship that resembled thosethat you'd find on historical documents. That thought reminded her of the rumours. Online discussions are filled with gossip bout celebrities and Mr. Mueller wasn't exempt. His writing was filled with pain, loss and enough sorrows to last several lifetimes. The way in which he spoke of life from a hundred years ago, it was almost like he was really there at the time. It didn't take long for the question to arise. Could Edmund Mueller be a real vampire? Writing the books could be his way of coming out to the world. Maybe he's looking for his true love and this is a way to seek her out!

Celia flipped the book over to stare at the picture that adorned the rear cover. I wouldn't mind, she thought. He's certainly a handsome devil. 

At the train station, she was met by a tall, older gentleman in a,well tailored, suit. She followed him to the car and was soon on the road. The picturesque town of Spooner was just as she envisioned it. The thick forests, Swan High School, it was as if she had stepped inside the book. All she needed now was a handsome vampire to sweep her off her feet.

To her surprise, the car came to a stop at an old cemetery. In the center of the property was an ancient, dilapidated structure that had been reduced to charred timber. There was a fire at some point, but from the looks of things it was many years ago.

"What are we doing here?" asked Celia."I thought you were taking me to meet-"

"I just drive and follow the instructions given to me by Mr. Mueller. This is where I was told to bring you," the driver interrupted.

"There's nothing here!"

"He's waiting for you. Follow the path and you'll find what you're looking for." With that, the driver said no more. He hopped into the car and drove away.

"What the fuck are you doing?! Hey, you can't just leave me here!"

Frustrated, Celia started looking for the path. "What fucking path? The only thing I see is tombstones and grass."

She wandered aimlessly among the headstones. The ground felt softer under her feet as she continued forward. The ground gave way with the next step. She tumbled forward into a dark pit. It seemed like she had been falling forever when she finally hit the ground below. She wheezed trying to recapture the air that had been knocked from her lungs. Dirt had blinded her eyes. She sat in the dark for several long minutes and wanted to cry; not because of being tricked by a mean old man or pain, but because she was certain her Bleeding Heart t-shirt was ruined.

"Ah, there you are," a voice said from the dark.

"Who's there?" Celia asked, filled with renewed fear.

"You must be Celia. I'm Edmund Mueller."

"Oh, my gosh!" Celia squealed, hauling herself to her feet. The pain and anger long forgotten. "It's such a pleasure to finally meet you!"

"The pleasure is all mine. My fans mean everything to me. You keep me young."

Edmund struck a match, filling the chasm with flickering, orange light. Once Celia's vision cleared, she was appalled by the sight in front of her. She was in a dusty, old room that was lined with skulls. To her left was a moldy table that held an antique typewriter. The biggest shock was the man standing before her. His face was not youthful or handsome. It was pale and had the features of a bat. Edmund opened his mouth, revealing two fangs similar to the teeth of a rat. He jerked her close and sank his teeth into her jugular. Within seconds of his feeding, Edmund's face had changed. He now looked like a healthy, young man. The blood of the youth had replenished his body, filling him with life and strength.

He licked the blood from his fingers and sat down at the table. He ften thought about writing the truth about vampires in one of his novels.  He could tell the entire nasty truth. Instead he typed away on the Bleeding Heart sequel. It was what he needed. It got the widespread attention and attracted the youths of America. It was them he needed most. His fans kept him young. They loved him. This is a love story, after all, and love bites.

In Search Of... Witnesses

As many of you know, I'm currently in the process of writing a book called BEASTS OF THE FIELD: A GUIDE TO THE SOUTHERN BIGFOOT. If you live in the south and have had an actual Bigfoot encounter, I would really like to hear from you. Also if you have any photographs I would really like to see them. They may even be featured in the book. I would just be asking publication rights for this book. Once the book is published, the rights return to you. Sadly, I won't be able to pay for the pictures (I'm an indie author and still poor) but you'd get credit in the book. Really I'm looking for people to interview in each state. No hoaxes, please. Only serious information. I look forward to talking with you guys soon.

My email is cgmorganhw@gmail.com

Official Update on the Doohickey

So how's everyone doing on this night? Have you frozen your ass off yet? I haven't been around much because I've had so many things keeping me busy. Not in a good way. Anyhow, I have been working on something in my spare time. Had to go the old fashioned way with pen and paper, but it's really coming along much faster than I ever expected. It's a departure, in ways, from what I typically do. Some of you already know what I'm talking about and I'm above and beyond excited to finally be working on this. It's a book that has been brewing in me for almost twenty years and I feel that the time has come. I'm ranting, aren't I? I'm bad for that.

Anyway, enough dragging it out. I'm in the process of writing The Southern Bigfoot Field Guide (title pending).

I've got an awesome artist working up some illustrations and a fellow Bigfoot fanatic working on the forward.

Lots of history, stories and techniques. It's been a huge undertaking but I've had more fun doing this than anything before it.
}:-)~
Rant/ramble complete.

Breaking New Ground

The past couple of weeks have been really difficult for me. There was a small fire for starters. It didn't cause any real damage to the house but my dad was hospitalized for smoke inhalation along with a few more medical issues that were fairly serious. Today he was finally able to come home and, fingers crossed, he won't have to go back to the ER anymore. That hospital is a nightmare in it's own right but that's another story for another time.

I needed to focus on something. Anything to take my mind off of all the stress about him and losing some stuff due to a power surge. So I sat down with pen and paper to work on something different. Something that has been a lifelong dream. (For those who've been asking about the other projects I've been working on, they're being delayed due to to computer dying in the surge. RIP, you electronic bastard.)

I started assembling a team of people to assist me in this venture. I've called upon a very talented artist (and musician) by the name of Kris Taylor, Eric S. Brown and a few cryptozoologists and will be working on my own Bigfoot Field Guide. The plan is to have something that will provide budding cryptozoologists with all of the information they'll need when venturing into the woods.

I'm trying to get things up and running on this pretty fast so watch this space for updates. If there's anything you'd like to see covered in the book, feel free to drop me an email and I'll work it into the research.

cgmorganhw@gmail.com

Since the accident that damaged my back, I haven't been able to spend as much time in the woods as I'd like. This is a way for me to do something productive in the field that I have loved for so long.

Welcome to Dark Corner

So this year I've decided to do NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). It's just the first day but I'm feeling pretty good about it. I don't have a whole lot to divulge about the project just yet but parts of it are based on local history. It is horror and there is a big, bad, beastie. This one will not be about Bigfoot but it IS considered a cryptid around here. I will also say that it is one very bad mother! Probably the nastiest and most vicious thing I've written about to date.... oh, and moonshine!
}:-)~
Here's the cover. I'll have a synopsis and some samples in the coming days.

Speechless

As of this writing, I am truly speechless. I'm a poor country boy from a small town in North Carolina that nobody's heard of. I grew up reading the Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark books by Alvin Schwartz (they're still my all time favorites) and R.L. Stine. That was my youth. Naturally, the time came when I began writing my own stories to scare people. The first, that I can remember, was called The Halloween House. It was basically a ripoff of Night of the Demons but more tales followed. I pulled an old typewriter from the barn, bought a new ribbon and off I went. I always felt best when I was writing. Still do.

Doing this was never about money. I knew the chances of me becoming rich from this stuff was pretty slim. I just wanted to tell my stories and share them with the world. Today, I get to live that dream. As of right now, my first ever young adult horror story, A Cold Night In Fouke is sitting at #3 on Amazon's YA Horror best seller list and has broke the top 50 of general horror. I honestly never thought I would write those words. Ever. It's also selling in countries I've never reached before.

Not bad for a hick from the mountains that was told it would never happen.

To all of those who have supported me, been there for my ups and downs, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It really does mean everything to me.

I couldn't ask for a better group of people. Thank you.

A Cold Night In Fouke - OUT NOW!

A while back, I decided to try an experiment. The idea was to write a few, cryptozoology-themed, young adult, horror stories. Depending on how they're received, more would follow and be collected into a paperback edition. I'm happy to announce that the first story is now available on Amazon and is my take on the legendary Boggy Creek creature.

Emmett is a young boy who craves adventure and excitement. He dreams of going hunting with his father through the wild swamps of southern Arkansas. The dreams soon become nightmares as something comes hunting for him.

For years, legends of giant creatures have haunted the area around Boggy Creek. Most dismiss the tales as bogeyman myths. For Emmett, the legend is all too real.

"Charlie Morgan delivers the goods with this one. Both fun and terrifying, it's a masterpiece of its genre."
-Eric S Brown, author of the Bigfoot War series.

More to come soon!

Click HERE to get your copy now.

Book Review: Autumn Aftermath by David Moody

David Moody's writing is definitely something different. That is shown very clearly in his apocalyptic AUTUMN series. These are not your typical zombie novels. Its difficult to really explain without giving away too much. These books have a great deal of heart amidst the carnage and bleakness but they're not fluffy either. There's plenty of violence and stomach churning muck to go around. The zombies themselves evolve much like the characters. It all leads up to the fitting conclusion, AFTERMATH. The tensions are white hot as everything draws to a close but there's plenty of hope and heartbreak ahead as the last of the living struggle to survive. This book reads like an old medieval adventure as survivors from an island clash with others who have taken shelter within the walls of a castle. A siege of both living and dead make this a nail biting finale all the way up to the very last page!

Once again, David Moody has hit a home run. I was wide awake at a ridiculous hour in the morning just to finish it. I really can't wait to see what he has in store next.

Click HERE to get it now