Hunter Shea's Blog, page 29
January 30, 2013
Writing What You Love & A Case For Keeping Your Day Job
We all want to do what we love for a living, right? I know I do. They say (and we all know who they are) that if you choose a job you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. I think I might make a poster of that, complete with a picture of my cat sleeping on the radiator.
Writers are often asked, especially when they are starting out, if they plan to make writing a full time career. You know, quit your stultifying 9 to 5 job and live off the fat of the advance and royalty checks that will shower upon you like rain in Dublin. Naturally, we’d all love to do this. That dream is right up there with winning the lottery. Getting your first book deal feels even harder than hitting Lotto.
The truth is, only a small percentage of authors can rely on what they bring in from their writing as their sole source of income. Next time you go to your bookstore at say, 11am on a Tuesday, pay close attention to all of the names you see on the spines of the books. The vast majority of those folks are slaving away at some office while you’re out browsing.
Where’s the glamour in that? What’s the point of struggling to get published if I still have to clock in every day and stare at my cubicle walls?
I’m here to tell you that there is an upside to this. When we commit to being a writer, we’re basically juggling two full time jobs. The day job pays the bills and hopefully gives you some sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. Writing feeds the soul and puts you in touch with your passion. Keeping up with both jobs also gives you freedom and peace of mind. That’s right, I said you’ll have more freedom, even within your cloth covered cube!
What’s this upside I seem so hellbent to profess?
• Publishers don’t give writers benefit plans or retirement savings. Anyone over 30 with kids will understand the importance of this. In fact, a lot of people consider this more important than salary when considering a job.
• Your day job gives you a steady paycheck. That means you can plan your finances, count on buying groceries every week and paying the rent every month. There are no cash dry spells when you have a day job.
• Because you don’t depend on writing to keep you and your family from living in a cardboard box, you have the FREEDOM to write about the things you love and are passionate about. You take on assignments and book projects that you want to do, not just ones that you need to do in order to survive.
I write horror. Unless your last name is King, Barker, Koontz or a handful of others, you’re confined to being a midlist author, which means the financial payoff will not have you putting a down payment on that pretty Jaguar.
Of the few horror writers I know who make writing their only career, I see their stress and have been told by more than one to treasure my day job. It’s stressful when you have to produce a prodigious output and hope that publishers will accept it and pay something worth the effort. There are no guarantees. Writing in genres they’d never read in becomes a necessity. Did I mention the stress?
Look, we all should dare to dream about landing that game changing book or movie deal that will put our 9 to 5 days behind us. It’s the carrot that keeps us chasing the stick. But don’t fret that you’re on published book #7 and still saying hi to your boss every morning. When you go home at night, you get to dive into the world you love most, and you get recognized and rewarded for it. Not too shabby.
Now, what’s your opinion? Do you think I’m crazy to embrace my day job or spot on? Have you managed to become a full time writer? Share a war story.
Writers are often asked, especially when they are starting out, if they plan to make writing a full time career. You know, quit your stultifying 9 to 5 job and live off the fat of the advance and royalty checks that will shower upon you like rain in Dublin. Naturally, we’d all love to do this. That dream is right up there with winning the lottery. Getting your first book deal feels even harder than hitting Lotto.
The truth is, only a small percentage of authors can rely on what they bring in from their writing as their sole source of income. Next time you go to your bookstore at say, 11am on a Tuesday, pay close attention to all of the names you see on the spines of the books. The vast majority of those folks are slaving away at some office while you’re out browsing.
Where’s the glamour in that? What’s the point of struggling to get published if I still have to clock in every day and stare at my cubicle walls?
I’m here to tell you that there is an upside to this. When we commit to being a writer, we’re basically juggling two full time jobs. The day job pays the bills and hopefully gives you some sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. Writing feeds the soul and puts you in touch with your passion. Keeping up with both jobs also gives you freedom and peace of mind. That’s right, I said you’ll have more freedom, even within your cloth covered cube!
What’s this upside I seem so hellbent to profess?
• Publishers don’t give writers benefit plans or retirement savings. Anyone over 30 with kids will understand the importance of this. In fact, a lot of people consider this more important than salary when considering a job.
• Your day job gives you a steady paycheck. That means you can plan your finances, count on buying groceries every week and paying the rent every month. There are no cash dry spells when you have a day job.
• Because you don’t depend on writing to keep you and your family from living in a cardboard box, you have the FREEDOM to write about the things you love and are passionate about. You take on assignments and book projects that you want to do, not just ones that you need to do in order to survive.
I write horror. Unless your last name is King, Barker, Koontz or a handful of others, you’re confined to being a midlist author, which means the financial payoff will not have you putting a down payment on that pretty Jaguar.
Of the few horror writers I know who make writing their only career, I see their stress and have been told by more than one to treasure my day job. It’s stressful when you have to produce a prodigious output and hope that publishers will accept it and pay something worth the effort. There are no guarantees. Writing in genres they’d never read in becomes a necessity. Did I mention the stress?
Look, we all should dare to dream about landing that game changing book or movie deal that will put our 9 to 5 days behind us. It’s the carrot that keeps us chasing the stick. But don’t fret that you’re on published book #7 and still saying hi to your boss every morning. When you go home at night, you get to dive into the world you love most, and you get recognized and rewarded for it. Not too shabby.
Now, what’s your opinion? Do you think I’m crazy to embrace my day job or spot on? Have you managed to become a full time writer? Share a war story.
January 4, 2013
2013 Writing Resolutions
The ball has dropped. The confetti is now in a landfill. Your diet plans have already been thrown to the wind, ready to return for a couple of days next January. The Twilight Zone marathon has passed the signpost up ahead that reads : Hey, time to get back to work!
I’m not big on resolutions because I know that 99% of them are yesterday’s dreams by the end of January. The only ones I’ve been able to keep are the resolutions that pertain to writing. For me, writing has always been my escape, my sanctuary, and now it’s also an income-providing business. All the more reason to get my ass in gear and hunker down. I admit, I took a total break from writing most of December. I needed it. My brain, like a chicken wing, was fried. At times during the holidays, I could actually hear my cells vibrate as they recharged. It was a wise decision to step back for a bit. But rest time is now bye-bye.
I figured I’d start with a list of resolutions that would benefit others as much as myself. Writing is a lonely business and sometimes we need some outside influences to kick us in the pants. Consider this my loving tap on your authorly keister.
Here are my 2013 Writing Resolutions:
1. Read More. I know I’ve stressed this in other articles and interviews. You can’t write if you don’t read. Plain and simple. I must read 75 or more books a year. I know I can do more. The number one rule is to turn that damn TV off as much as possible. Naturally, I read a ton of horror novels. But i’s also good to branch out to other genres, as well as the classics and self-help books. It all leads to personal growth. In fact, this year, I vow to read at least one romance novel. It’s the last genre out there that I haven’t touched as a reader. Any suggestions?
2. Write. Write. Write. Even though I didn’t write over the holidays, I did think about what my projects will be for 2013 and hit the library to do research. What are my exact goals? I will write at least one novel from start to finish (revisions included). I want to write one novella, if not two. I need to get back in the short story swing, so I’ve set a goal of writing at least a half dozen shorts. I also want to write and publish a collection of true ghost stories in time for Halloween. There, that should keep me off the streets.
3. Query new markets. Yes, I have an agent that does a lot of this for me, but I can’t have her do all the work. This is my career, after all. I need to be more aggressive this year and see if I can open some new doors and different writing opportunities.
4. Pitch a story to a TV/film production company. I have a few ideas/stories that I can lead with. Now I need to figure out how to go about this. I’ll research on the internet and reach out to other authors that have had success pitching their stuff. Getting a development deal is one of my bucket list things, so I better get on the ball.
5. Attend more cons and writers conventions. I already signed up for a couple of writer’s organizations while I lounged around watching Arrested Development in my sweats. I intend to go to a few national and local cons to mix and mingle and learn a thing or three. I’ll also show my face at more horror cons, like World Horror Con, Horrorfind, KillerCon and Chiller Theatre. That’s always a fun time!
6. Keep my writing area organized. This seems like a little thing, but it’s far from it. I spent 4 hours cleaning out all the crap that had accumulated in my little writing space during the year. This year, it’s getting a monthly sprucing up so things don’t get lost in the shuffle.
7. Find new ways to market my work. As a writer today, you can’t fall asleep at the switch when it comes to marketing. There are always new services popping up that can help you get the word out about your work. Some work, some don’t, but you have to try. As an example, I jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon last year, but learned after a few months that it wasn’t doing much for me. Hey, at least I tried.
8. Expand the scope of the Monster Men podcast. You’re going to see a lot of new stuff with our video podcast in 2013. We’re going to interview authors, directors, publishers, paranormal groups, you name it. Jack and I can’t wait to get started. If you’re any of the above and would like to be on the show, shoot me an email and we’ll work out a schedule.
9. Listen to more podcasts. I’m an audio podcast junkie. I spend a lot of time in my car with my radio, but I’m not digging what’s on the air. Since my car is old, I’m going out to get an adapter so I can play the podcasts on my Nano through my car stereo. Podcasts are great ways to inform, educate, entertain, inspire and gain more depth into whatever topic that interests you. I highly suggest Jim Harold’s Paranormal Podcast. Great stuff.
10. Rest. I’ve learned that you can’t run around juggling 100 things at once, 24/7, and expect to remain sane. So even though I’ve set a heavy workload for myself, I will make it a point to find moments to rest my mind, body and spirit. Sometimes you need to step out and let your subconscious do some of the heavy lifting. Believe me, it will all be there when you need it.
I’m not big on resolutions because I know that 99% of them are yesterday’s dreams by the end of January. The only ones I’ve been able to keep are the resolutions that pertain to writing. For me, writing has always been my escape, my sanctuary, and now it’s also an income-providing business. All the more reason to get my ass in gear and hunker down. I admit, I took a total break from writing most of December. I needed it. My brain, like a chicken wing, was fried. At times during the holidays, I could actually hear my cells vibrate as they recharged. It was a wise decision to step back for a bit. But rest time is now bye-bye.
I figured I’d start with a list of resolutions that would benefit others as much as myself. Writing is a lonely business and sometimes we need some outside influences to kick us in the pants. Consider this my loving tap on your authorly keister.
Here are my 2013 Writing Resolutions:
1. Read More. I know I’ve stressed this in other articles and interviews. You can’t write if you don’t read. Plain and simple. I must read 75 or more books a year. I know I can do more. The number one rule is to turn that damn TV off as much as possible. Naturally, I read a ton of horror novels. But i’s also good to branch out to other genres, as well as the classics and self-help books. It all leads to personal growth. In fact, this year, I vow to read at least one romance novel. It’s the last genre out there that I haven’t touched as a reader. Any suggestions?
2. Write. Write. Write. Even though I didn’t write over the holidays, I did think about what my projects will be for 2013 and hit the library to do research. What are my exact goals? I will write at least one novel from start to finish (revisions included). I want to write one novella, if not two. I need to get back in the short story swing, so I’ve set a goal of writing at least a half dozen shorts. I also want to write and publish a collection of true ghost stories in time for Halloween. There, that should keep me off the streets.
3. Query new markets. Yes, I have an agent that does a lot of this for me, but I can’t have her do all the work. This is my career, after all. I need to be more aggressive this year and see if I can open some new doors and different writing opportunities.
4. Pitch a story to a TV/film production company. I have a few ideas/stories that I can lead with. Now I need to figure out how to go about this. I’ll research on the internet and reach out to other authors that have had success pitching their stuff. Getting a development deal is one of my bucket list things, so I better get on the ball.
5. Attend more cons and writers conventions. I already signed up for a couple of writer’s organizations while I lounged around watching Arrested Development in my sweats. I intend to go to a few national and local cons to mix and mingle and learn a thing or three. I’ll also show my face at more horror cons, like World Horror Con, Horrorfind, KillerCon and Chiller Theatre. That’s always a fun time!
6. Keep my writing area organized. This seems like a little thing, but it’s far from it. I spent 4 hours cleaning out all the crap that had accumulated in my little writing space during the year. This year, it’s getting a monthly sprucing up so things don’t get lost in the shuffle.
7. Find new ways to market my work. As a writer today, you can’t fall asleep at the switch when it comes to marketing. There are always new services popping up that can help you get the word out about your work. Some work, some don’t, but you have to try. As an example, I jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon last year, but learned after a few months that it wasn’t doing much for me. Hey, at least I tried.
8. Expand the scope of the Monster Men podcast. You’re going to see a lot of new stuff with our video podcast in 2013. We’re going to interview authors, directors, publishers, paranormal groups, you name it. Jack and I can’t wait to get started. If you’re any of the above and would like to be on the show, shoot me an email and we’ll work out a schedule.
9. Listen to more podcasts. I’m an audio podcast junkie. I spend a lot of time in my car with my radio, but I’m not digging what’s on the air. Since my car is old, I’m going out to get an adapter so I can play the podcasts on my Nano through my car stereo. Podcasts are great ways to inform, educate, entertain, inspire and gain more depth into whatever topic that interests you. I highly suggest Jim Harold’s Paranormal Podcast. Great stuff.
10. Rest. I’ve learned that you can’t run around juggling 100 things at once, 24/7, and expect to remain sane. So even though I’ve set a heavy workload for myself, I will make it a point to find moments to rest my mind, body and spirit. Sometimes you need to step out and let your subconscious do some of the heavy lifting. Believe me, it will all be there when you need it.
October 2, 2012
A Monstrous Preview
The day is finally here. Swamp Monster Massacre lives! To kick things off, I invite you to visit the first stop of the blog tour (as seen in the previous post) and take a gander at the following preview of chapter one. This isn’t your grandfather’s bigfoot story – that’s if you had a strange grandfather obsessed with the big ape.
And to make things extra special, I’m going to pick a random person who responds to this post to win a $5 Samhain gift card, which shockingly is more than enough to pick up your own copy of SMM with change to pick up a second novella.
Remember, keep your hands in the ride at all times and no flash photography. Skunk Apes hate that.
SWAMP MONSTER MASSACRE
Chapter 1.
Rooster Murphy pried his knuckle out of Cheech’s shattered eye socket with a grunt of frustration. Goddamn guy’s skull must have been made of honeycombs to break apart like that. Cheech’s right eye, in all its smooshed, gelatinous glory, quivered on the knuckle of his middle finger. He flicked his wrist in disgust and watched the eye splatter against the floor, leaving a slick streak.
“I told you to cut it out, didn’t I?” he screamed at the Cuban man’s cooling corpse. “Did you think I was fucking playing with you? Huh? Jesus, Cheech! You know, you really put me in a tight spot. You really did. You fucked me good, man. You fucked me good.”
He hocked a wad of phlegm on Cheech’s chest for good measure.
Now what?
All Cheech had to do was hand over the guns, and all he had to do was give that entitled Cuban the money. Simple. A friggin’ retard could have handled that.
But Cheech, man, he always had to ride him. Always had something to say. Always quick with a joke at his expense. He was Luis Cortez’s son after all, so he thought that gave him a free ride to say and do anything he felt like.
And Rooster, he’d really been trying to hold it together. Five court-ordered stints at anger management, meds that made his head fuzzy and his dick soft, meditation CDs made by California fruits, and all that other shit out the window in under a minute.
So now he had the guns and the money and Cheech’s stiff with the surprisingly fragile skull. It was only a couple of punches. Must have been all that blow Cheech did, eating away at his stupid face.
Fuck it. Either way, he was a dead man. Rough Cheech up a little, you could expect Papa Luis to come down on you so hard you own mother would feel the loss in her old, empty womb.
Rooster took a moment to think about his options. The guy’s apartment was straight out of that Cribs show, full of all kinds of marble and hi-tech electronic shit. The air conditioning was on full blast and, as he discovered walking into the kitchen, there was plenty of Presidente beer in the fridge. He usually preferred the cheap stuff like Busch or Schaefer, but beggars can’t be choosers.
He twisted off the non-twist-off cap of a Presidente and sat back on the big leather couch. Rooster shoved Cheech’s legs away with the heel of his sneaker. The cold beer felt like heaven as it sluiced down his chest and into his gut.
This was bad. He’d been down shit creek more than his share of times, but this one took the cake, ate it, crapped it out, clogged the toilet and spilled out onto the floor. Cortez had guys all over Naples. Hell, his arm stretched down to Miami and up north to Jacksonville. Getting out of Florida was going to be like that Clint Eastwood flick, The Gauntlet. That was pretty badass when Clint fortified a bus to take on an assault from more guns than the French had surrender parties.
For the first time since entering Cheech’s apartment, Rooster smiled. He remembered seeing that movie with his dad at the old Big Star Drive-In. He must have been ten at the time. His dad would park a couple of ratty old lawn chairs in front of their Chevelle and they’d eat popcorn one of his succession of ‘aunts’ had made at home. And on special nights, like the night they saw The Gauntlet, his dad would share a few sips of his suds with him.
It wasn’t until Rooster had finished the beer that he remembered he wasn’t supposed to drink alcohol with his meds. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to drive, operate heavy machinery, walk, talk or screw when under the influence of alcohol, because no matter what you are in the middle of doing, you are about to take a world-class face-plant.
“Crap.”
The room spun and he thought he saw Cheech move. The bottle slipped from his hand and his mind slipped from this world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swamp Monster Massacre is available at Samhain Horror, Amazon, B&N and everywhere e-books are sold.
And to make things extra special, I’m going to pick a random person who responds to this post to win a $5 Samhain gift card, which shockingly is more than enough to pick up your own copy of SMM with change to pick up a second novella.
Remember, keep your hands in the ride at all times and no flash photography. Skunk Apes hate that.
SWAMP MONSTER MASSACRE
Chapter 1.
Rooster Murphy pried his knuckle out of Cheech’s shattered eye socket with a grunt of frustration. Goddamn guy’s skull must have been made of honeycombs to break apart like that. Cheech’s right eye, in all its smooshed, gelatinous glory, quivered on the knuckle of his middle finger. He flicked his wrist in disgust and watched the eye splatter against the floor, leaving a slick streak.
“I told you to cut it out, didn’t I?” he screamed at the Cuban man’s cooling corpse. “Did you think I was fucking playing with you? Huh? Jesus, Cheech! You know, you really put me in a tight spot. You really did. You fucked me good, man. You fucked me good.”
He hocked a wad of phlegm on Cheech’s chest for good measure.
Now what?
All Cheech had to do was hand over the guns, and all he had to do was give that entitled Cuban the money. Simple. A friggin’ retard could have handled that.
But Cheech, man, he always had to ride him. Always had something to say. Always quick with a joke at his expense. He was Luis Cortez’s son after all, so he thought that gave him a free ride to say and do anything he felt like.
And Rooster, he’d really been trying to hold it together. Five court-ordered stints at anger management, meds that made his head fuzzy and his dick soft, meditation CDs made by California fruits, and all that other shit out the window in under a minute.
So now he had the guns and the money and Cheech’s stiff with the surprisingly fragile skull. It was only a couple of punches. Must have been all that blow Cheech did, eating away at his stupid face.
Fuck it. Either way, he was a dead man. Rough Cheech up a little, you could expect Papa Luis to come down on you so hard you own mother would feel the loss in her old, empty womb.
Rooster took a moment to think about his options. The guy’s apartment was straight out of that Cribs show, full of all kinds of marble and hi-tech electronic shit. The air conditioning was on full blast and, as he discovered walking into the kitchen, there was plenty of Presidente beer in the fridge. He usually preferred the cheap stuff like Busch or Schaefer, but beggars can’t be choosers.
He twisted off the non-twist-off cap of a Presidente and sat back on the big leather couch. Rooster shoved Cheech’s legs away with the heel of his sneaker. The cold beer felt like heaven as it sluiced down his chest and into his gut.
This was bad. He’d been down shit creek more than his share of times, but this one took the cake, ate it, crapped it out, clogged the toilet and spilled out onto the floor. Cortez had guys all over Naples. Hell, his arm stretched down to Miami and up north to Jacksonville. Getting out of Florida was going to be like that Clint Eastwood flick, The Gauntlet. That was pretty badass when Clint fortified a bus to take on an assault from more guns than the French had surrender parties.
For the first time since entering Cheech’s apartment, Rooster smiled. He remembered seeing that movie with his dad at the old Big Star Drive-In. He must have been ten at the time. His dad would park a couple of ratty old lawn chairs in front of their Chevelle and they’d eat popcorn one of his succession of ‘aunts’ had made at home. And on special nights, like the night they saw The Gauntlet, his dad would share a few sips of his suds with him.
It wasn’t until Rooster had finished the beer that he remembered he wasn’t supposed to drink alcohol with his meds. Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to drive, operate heavy machinery, walk, talk or screw when under the influence of alcohol, because no matter what you are in the middle of doing, you are about to take a world-class face-plant.
“Crap.”
The room spun and he thought he saw Cheech move. The bottle slipped from his hand and his mind slipped from this world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swamp Monster Massacre is available at Samhain Horror, Amazon, B&N and everywhere e-books are sold.
August 7, 2012
Mercy : A Gothic Nightmare (Free E-Series)
Part 1 of my new gothic e-series, MERCY, is now available at www.huntershea.com.
It starts with an exorcism, and goes into ever darker and mysterious places.
"The devil lives among us. In fact, it sleeps in the parlor beneath my bed, the one I shared with my older sister, Jessamine, until four weeks ago. It festers within her frail body, a host that grows weaker with each passing day, so weak that I wonder how much more my poor sister can endure."
Come on over and see if you can face the devil within the old Manse! http://huntershea.com/2012/08/07/new-...
It starts with an exorcism, and goes into ever darker and mysterious places.
"The devil lives among us. In fact, it sleeps in the parlor beneath my bed, the one I shared with my older sister, Jessamine, until four weeks ago. It festers within her frail body, a host that grows weaker with each passing day, so weak that I wonder how much more my poor sister can endure."
Come on over and see if you can face the devil within the old Manse! http://huntershea.com/2012/08/07/new-...
May 1, 2012
Anatomy of a Book : An Unconventional Path
It’s a great day here in the Shea neighborhood. My second book with Samhain Publishing, Evil Eternal, is now available and can be had a pretty damn good price (under $5!). I’m honored to be part of the Samhain family and have been impressed every step of the way since they took this orphan in last year.
Now, I’ve already given you an excerpt in a previous quote, breakdown of the book on my Books page along with some advance reviews. So, what the heck esle do I have to talk about (other than the various posts and article on my blog tour—see previous post)? I figured I’d give you a little Shea family snapshot and show you how Evil Eternal grew from a tiny idea to a full-fledged, demon-killing novel.
Way back when Bill Clinton was asking the world to define the word ‘is’, I got a spanking new computer. The best way to test drive that Gateway was to write a short story, preferrably something with larger than life characters, demons and gore. Hey, it’s what I was in the mood for at the time. Well, I cranked out a short story about this undead priest called Father Michael who stumbles upon scenes of carnage wrought by a demon called Cain (he of Cain and Abel infamy).
I wrote it, I read it, I liked it. So did other folks I showed it to. I went on to write another story, placing Father Michael in the NY sewer system seeking demons in dark, filthy tunnels. About a year after I had written both stories, a Bram Stoker nominated horror website came to me to see if I had any ideas for a monthly e-serial. I thought, hey, I’ve got just the thing!
So for a few months, I wrote new chapters for the website, leaving each on a cliffhanger. It was great fun. Alas, the website shut down well before the story was finished.
There were plans to make it a graphic comic and a great friend started preliminary artwork. Comic publishers were contacted, but no one took the bait. Oh well. I may be a big comic book reader, but I was never too saavy about the business side of the medium.
I had an ending that was just itching to be written, so I went back and finished what I started and had a dandy novella. And that’s the way it sat for quite a while.
Enter Samhain, stage right. As I was digging through my drawer of misfit manuscripts, I showed my editor the novella. The next question was, “Can you flesh it out and make it a novel?” Hell yeah, I can! I dove back into the Evil Eternal world and added a new beginning, ending and beefed up everything in between. I had a ton of fun writing it. This is ‘let your freak flag fly’ territory.
And now it’s finally here. Be sure to check in at the ‘ol blog and chain and the various blog tour stops for giveaways and fun. Next time you’re in church, thank a priest. They may save you from death at the hands of a demon some day.
Now, I’ve already given you an excerpt in a previous quote, breakdown of the book on my Books page along with some advance reviews. So, what the heck esle do I have to talk about (other than the various posts and article on my blog tour—see previous post)? I figured I’d give you a little Shea family snapshot and show you how Evil Eternal grew from a tiny idea to a full-fledged, demon-killing novel.
Way back when Bill Clinton was asking the world to define the word ‘is’, I got a spanking new computer. The best way to test drive that Gateway was to write a short story, preferrably something with larger than life characters, demons and gore. Hey, it’s what I was in the mood for at the time. Well, I cranked out a short story about this undead priest called Father Michael who stumbles upon scenes of carnage wrought by a demon called Cain (he of Cain and Abel infamy).
I wrote it, I read it, I liked it. So did other folks I showed it to. I went on to write another story, placing Father Michael in the NY sewer system seeking demons in dark, filthy tunnels. About a year after I had written both stories, a Bram Stoker nominated horror website came to me to see if I had any ideas for a monthly e-serial. I thought, hey, I’ve got just the thing!
So for a few months, I wrote new chapters for the website, leaving each on a cliffhanger. It was great fun. Alas, the website shut down well before the story was finished.
There were plans to make it a graphic comic and a great friend started preliminary artwork. Comic publishers were contacted, but no one took the bait. Oh well. I may be a big comic book reader, but I was never too saavy about the business side of the medium.
I had an ending that was just itching to be written, so I went back and finished what I started and had a dandy novella. And that’s the way it sat for quite a while.
Enter Samhain, stage right. As I was digging through my drawer of misfit manuscripts, I showed my editor the novella. The next question was, “Can you flesh it out and make it a novel?” Hell yeah, I can! I dove back into the Evil Eternal world and added a new beginning, ending and beefed up everything in between. I had a ton of fun writing it. This is ‘let your freak flag fly’ territory.
And now it’s finally here. Be sure to check in at the ‘ol blog and chain and the various blog tour stops for giveaways and fun. Next time you’re in church, thank a priest. They may save you from death at the hands of a demon some day.
April 14, 2012
A Preview of My Next Book : Evil Eternal
It’s hard to believe that my next novel with Samhain Publishing, Evil Eternal, will be available May 1st as an ebook, with print coming in early September. It feels like Forest of Shadows just came out a week ago and here I am gearing up for another round of horror-fueled madness.
Evil Eternal has all the subtlety of a Cat-5 hurricane. I had originally designed it to be a graphic novel but over time it morphed into a full length novel. It’s been described as ‘rip-roaring grand guignol’ and an over-the-top battle royale of good vs. evil.
So, to get you all revved up and ready, put on a little mood music (I suggest anything by Wagner or White Zombie), sit back, and enjoy the follow excerpt…
EVIL ETERNAL – Ante
Hot sand blew into the stranger’s face as he crested the dusty hill. He refused to blink, refused to admit even the slightest defeat to the power of nature and the one who birthed it. He spat on the lone tuft of grass that clung to the hilltop, laughed as it turned a bilious brown, wilting back into the dry earth.
He was surprised to find a small orchard of fig trees lay nestled in the valley below, a lush land fed by the runoff from the surrounding hummocks. At the outer edge of the orchard sat a clay home, baked hard in the sun, big enough to house three, maybe four people. The leaves of the fig trees chittered in the breeze, mocking him. He’d see to that.
Using his gnarled, wooden staff, he descended the hill in a matter of minutes, his bare feet finding a solid grip with each step. The sun was strong and burned the back of his neck. He pulled his woolen hood over his head, pausing a moment to take in the orchard from eye level.
Available for pre-order now!
Five rows of a dozen trees each were spaced out evenly across the valley. Thousands of ripe green figs hung from the branches. They looked, to him at least, like swollen scrotums. He reached up to pluck one, grimaced as it discolored in the palm of his hand, turning a mushy black and melting between his fingers.
The tree followed suit, the figs dying and falling in a rain dance of heavy plops, bursting as they hit the ground. Leaves shriveled up, became brittle, while the branches sagged as if saddled with the weight of the moon.
Crack!
The trunk split in half, the bisected tree collapsing in opposite directions.
The verdant soil around the tree transformed to a cancerous black, spider veins stretching to its neighbors, the scene of rapid decay and death replayed again and again until the orchard was a killing field, the soul of the land corrupted beyond measure.
This made the stranger smile.
Two men erupted from the house, hands on their heads, wailing in shock, anger, fear. Their life’s work had been destroyed in a matter of minutes, struck down by an unseen plague. A woman holding a child to her breast emerged. She looked across the demolished field and cried. The baby fidgeted in her arms as if it too could sense that something had gone terribly wrong.
One of the men met the stranger’s gaze, pointed.
“You did this?” he cried. It was more a question than an accusation, for the moment. The strange man in his former orchard was the one thing that did not belong. If he was not the cause, and how could one man do this, then perhaps he was witness to the death of his beloved fig trees.
To the man’s amazement, the stranger bowed and said, “Yes, I did.”
Fire flashed in both men’s eyes and they disappeared into the house. The woman turned away from him, shielding the baby from his view. The men emerged brandishing long swords. They held them high above their heads, charging.
He waited for them to come to him, to wear themselves out running across the barren field. They swore curses as they rushed headlong, prepared to maim this stranger who had taken their life from them through some power they did not and could not understand. But they did understand retribution, the swifter the better.
The stranger waited until they were several steps away before raising his walking stick above his head. It caught both swords as they swooped down to cleave him from shoulder to hip. With a flick of his wrist, both swords were torn from their hands, buried in the unyielding wood of his staff. He tossed it aside, grabbing for their throats.
He closed his eyes, in the throes of an orgasmic rapture as he felt their windpipes crush between his fingers. They swatted at his thick forearms to no avail. He squeezed tighter, cutting off their supply of oxygen, demolishing the inner workings of their respiratory system. They wouldn’t be needing them much longer.
Their throats collapsed one after the other with an audible rending of cartilage and muscle. He released them, looking on in amusement as they dropped to the ground, their eyes distended, tongues swollen and lolling from open mouths.
The woman sobbed, falling to her knees. He came to her in slow, steady strides, confident that she would not run from him. She looked up as his shadow loomed over her.
“What kind of monster are you?” she asked, defiance in her eyes. Her baby had grown silent, tucked within her robes.
He leaned on his staff, regarding her with cold curiosity.
“I’m the best kind of monster.”
Evil Eternal has all the subtlety of a Cat-5 hurricane. I had originally designed it to be a graphic novel but over time it morphed into a full length novel. It’s been described as ‘rip-roaring grand guignol’ and an over-the-top battle royale of good vs. evil.
So, to get you all revved up and ready, put on a little mood music (I suggest anything by Wagner or White Zombie), sit back, and enjoy the follow excerpt…
EVIL ETERNAL – Ante
Hot sand blew into the stranger’s face as he crested the dusty hill. He refused to blink, refused to admit even the slightest defeat to the power of nature and the one who birthed it. He spat on the lone tuft of grass that clung to the hilltop, laughed as it turned a bilious brown, wilting back into the dry earth.
He was surprised to find a small orchard of fig trees lay nestled in the valley below, a lush land fed by the runoff from the surrounding hummocks. At the outer edge of the orchard sat a clay home, baked hard in the sun, big enough to house three, maybe four people. The leaves of the fig trees chittered in the breeze, mocking him. He’d see to that.
Using his gnarled, wooden staff, he descended the hill in a matter of minutes, his bare feet finding a solid grip with each step. The sun was strong and burned the back of his neck. He pulled his woolen hood over his head, pausing a moment to take in the orchard from eye level.
Available for pre-order now!
Five rows of a dozen trees each were spaced out evenly across the valley. Thousands of ripe green figs hung from the branches. They looked, to him at least, like swollen scrotums. He reached up to pluck one, grimaced as it discolored in the palm of his hand, turning a mushy black and melting between his fingers.
The tree followed suit, the figs dying and falling in a rain dance of heavy plops, bursting as they hit the ground. Leaves shriveled up, became brittle, while the branches sagged as if saddled with the weight of the moon.
Crack!
The trunk split in half, the bisected tree collapsing in opposite directions.
The verdant soil around the tree transformed to a cancerous black, spider veins stretching to its neighbors, the scene of rapid decay and death replayed again and again until the orchard was a killing field, the soul of the land corrupted beyond measure.
This made the stranger smile.
Two men erupted from the house, hands on their heads, wailing in shock, anger, fear. Their life’s work had been destroyed in a matter of minutes, struck down by an unseen plague. A woman holding a child to her breast emerged. She looked across the demolished field and cried. The baby fidgeted in her arms as if it too could sense that something had gone terribly wrong.
One of the men met the stranger’s gaze, pointed.
“You did this?” he cried. It was more a question than an accusation, for the moment. The strange man in his former orchard was the one thing that did not belong. If he was not the cause, and how could one man do this, then perhaps he was witness to the death of his beloved fig trees.
To the man’s amazement, the stranger bowed and said, “Yes, I did.”
Fire flashed in both men’s eyes and they disappeared into the house. The woman turned away from him, shielding the baby from his view. The men emerged brandishing long swords. They held them high above their heads, charging.
He waited for them to come to him, to wear themselves out running across the barren field. They swore curses as they rushed headlong, prepared to maim this stranger who had taken their life from them through some power they did not and could not understand. But they did understand retribution, the swifter the better.
The stranger waited until they were several steps away before raising his walking stick above his head. It caught both swords as they swooped down to cleave him from shoulder to hip. With a flick of his wrist, both swords were torn from their hands, buried in the unyielding wood of his staff. He tossed it aside, grabbing for their throats.
He closed his eyes, in the throes of an orgasmic rapture as he felt their windpipes crush between his fingers. They swatted at his thick forearms to no avail. He squeezed tighter, cutting off their supply of oxygen, demolishing the inner workings of their respiratory system. They wouldn’t be needing them much longer.
Their throats collapsed one after the other with an audible rending of cartilage and muscle. He released them, looking on in amusement as they dropped to the ground, their eyes distended, tongues swollen and lolling from open mouths.
The woman sobbed, falling to her knees. He came to her in slow, steady strides, confident that she would not run from him. She looked up as his shadow loomed over her.
“What kind of monster are you?” she asked, defiance in her eyes. Her baby had grown silent, tucked within her robes.
He leaned on his staff, regarding her with cold curiosity.
“I’m the best kind of monster.”
April 7, 2012
A New Look at the Old Book Signing
I’ve always wanted to build a better book signing, and with the launch of my book tour this past weekend I think I may have done it (cue Dr. Frankenstein’s laughter of the demented). There are valid reasons why I wanted to change things up this time around.
When I published a very small book years ago, I went on a mini-tour that included about 7 signings, most at mom and pop bookstores, and a few large chain stores. I had mixed results. The majority involved me sitting behind a table, hoping someone would look my way and take a peek at the book. I’ve noticed that a lot of people are wary of approaching authors. Trust me, we’re happy to talk to you, even if you don’t buy a book! I was usually able to sell a handful of books at the mom and pops.
I had two nightmare signings, both at major outlets. One was on the 4th of July. Naturally, no one was in the store! Then, they put me under a sky light, so the 95 degree sun could melt me to the chair. The only thing I succeeded in doing was convincing the lone customer not to buy Hilary Clinton’s book that was behind me.
The next one was even worse. I’m not a public speaker. Well, when I got there, they had set up a podium and about forty chairs and expected me to read from my book. Lucky for stammering me, the only people in those chairs were my wife, her friend and a support group for people with hepatitis-C, who were busy holding their own meeting and not paying attention to me. I sold 1 whole book that night, which was an improvement over the zero sold on Independence Day.
I’ve attended my fair share of author signings and have come to the conclusion that I'm not a big fan of author readings. Unless they are classically trained in the art of acting and public speaking, their voice interferes with the voice I then bring to the book when I read it. Very few enhance the experience.
So as I geared up to promote Forest of Shadows, I feverishly tried to come up with a unique way of making a book signing a bigger, better experience for those who come to see me. Hell, they’re going out of their way to attend, I better give them a show to justify their precious time.
To erase my bad experiences of the past, I made sure I got a signing at a Barnes & Noble. Big time, big pressure.
What I did next was examine my genre, the topic of my book, and other things I have done to promote it all along and combined them into what I felt was a fun, informative evening. Here’s the game plan:
• My book is a fictional story about a ghost hunter. So, I decided to focus on ghosts in general, not just the ones in my book.
• I do a video podcast called The Monster Men where my buddy and I talk about all things horror and scary. We went back to look at episodes where we talked about ghosts and created a 10 minute video. It centered on my ghost trips to The Queen Mary, The Manhattan Bistro and my own experience in a haunted hotel room in Spain.
• I created a slide show that showed all kinds of ghost pictures, as well as intermittent slides showing my website and logo. I added some sinister music to it as well. As people filtered in, I had the slideshow and music going to get and hold their attention.
• I started by asking what people believed in (Bigfoot, UFOs, Ghosts) and handed out candy prizes for those brave enough to raise their hands. This got them involved and gave them sugar rushes! I also kept a bowl of cookies on the table.
• I talked a little about the book and wove humor with the horror throughout. I showed the video, stopping every now and then to add a funny anecdote or two.
• After the video, I talked a little more about the book, just for a couple of minutes, and asked people to share their own paranormal stories.
• Then it was time to sign! I also created a posterboard of the cover of my book at Staples for $10 and asked them to sign it for me as I signed their book. Now I have a great keepsake and they had a blast signing it. How many authors ask their readers for their autograph?
• Lastly, I created postcards that promote my next book, website and Monster Men podcast and put them in each book.
The key to everything was to have fun and make it a great night. I keep thinking I’ll bring a smoke machine to the next one, but my kids roll their eyes on that suggestion.
Best of all, I started with a table loaded with books and came a hair from a total sellout. There were only a couple left by the end of the night, which I signed so they can display them prominently in the store.
Now, I’m not saying this is the definitive way to do your own signing. You have to do what you’re comfortable with. Be creative. Make ‘em laugh. Be interactive. If you can do all three, you’re in for a hell of a night.
When I published a very small book years ago, I went on a mini-tour that included about 7 signings, most at mom and pop bookstores, and a few large chain stores. I had mixed results. The majority involved me sitting behind a table, hoping someone would look my way and take a peek at the book. I’ve noticed that a lot of people are wary of approaching authors. Trust me, we’re happy to talk to you, even if you don’t buy a book! I was usually able to sell a handful of books at the mom and pops.
I had two nightmare signings, both at major outlets. One was on the 4th of July. Naturally, no one was in the store! Then, they put me under a sky light, so the 95 degree sun could melt me to the chair. The only thing I succeeded in doing was convincing the lone customer not to buy Hilary Clinton’s book that was behind me.
The next one was even worse. I’m not a public speaker. Well, when I got there, they had set up a podium and about forty chairs and expected me to read from my book. Lucky for stammering me, the only people in those chairs were my wife, her friend and a support group for people with hepatitis-C, who were busy holding their own meeting and not paying attention to me. I sold 1 whole book that night, which was an improvement over the zero sold on Independence Day.
I’ve attended my fair share of author signings and have come to the conclusion that I'm not a big fan of author readings. Unless they are classically trained in the art of acting and public speaking, their voice interferes with the voice I then bring to the book when I read it. Very few enhance the experience.
So as I geared up to promote Forest of Shadows, I feverishly tried to come up with a unique way of making a book signing a bigger, better experience for those who come to see me. Hell, they’re going out of their way to attend, I better give them a show to justify their precious time.
To erase my bad experiences of the past, I made sure I got a signing at a Barnes & Noble. Big time, big pressure.
What I did next was examine my genre, the topic of my book, and other things I have done to promote it all along and combined them into what I felt was a fun, informative evening. Here’s the game plan:
• My book is a fictional story about a ghost hunter. So, I decided to focus on ghosts in general, not just the ones in my book.
• I do a video podcast called The Monster Men where my buddy and I talk about all things horror and scary. We went back to look at episodes where we talked about ghosts and created a 10 minute video. It centered on my ghost trips to The Queen Mary, The Manhattan Bistro and my own experience in a haunted hotel room in Spain.
• I created a slide show that showed all kinds of ghost pictures, as well as intermittent slides showing my website and logo. I added some sinister music to it as well. As people filtered in, I had the slideshow and music going to get and hold their attention.
• I started by asking what people believed in (Bigfoot, UFOs, Ghosts) and handed out candy prizes for those brave enough to raise their hands. This got them involved and gave them sugar rushes! I also kept a bowl of cookies on the table.
• I talked a little about the book and wove humor with the horror throughout. I showed the video, stopping every now and then to add a funny anecdote or two.
• After the video, I talked a little more about the book, just for a couple of minutes, and asked people to share their own paranormal stories.
• Then it was time to sign! I also created a posterboard of the cover of my book at Staples for $10 and asked them to sign it for me as I signed their book. Now I have a great keepsake and they had a blast signing it. How many authors ask their readers for their autograph?
• Lastly, I created postcards that promote my next book, website and Monster Men podcast and put them in each book.
The key to everything was to have fun and make it a great night. I keep thinking I’ll bring a smoke machine to the next one, but my kids roll their eyes on that suggestion.
Best of all, I started with a table loaded with books and came a hair from a total sellout. There were only a couple left by the end of the night, which I signed so they can display them prominently in the store.
Now, I’m not saying this is the definitive way to do your own signing. You have to do what you’re comfortable with. Be creative. Make ‘em laugh. Be interactive. If you can do all three, you’re in for a hell of a night.
March 7, 2012
Interview with Katrina Weidman from Paranormal State
Back in 2010, I was lucky enough to interview Katrina for a magazine that, unfortunately, fell on hard times, so the interview was never published.
For those of you who don’t know Katrina, she is a Penn State graduate with a dual degree in Integrative Arts, Katrina was born and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She joined PRS in 2006 along with Heather and became the team’s interviewer as well as an investigator. When Dead Time comes around (Dead Time begins at 3 a.m., when spirit activity is purported to be at its most potent), you can be sure Katrina will be sitting vigil, calling out to any spirits in the room, inviting them to make a noise or touch her hand, with nothing but her Katrina Cam for company. In those moments, we see that Katrina isn’t Superwoman. She’s just the same as we would be in her shoes; curious, cautious, often times brave and sometimes scared. The search for proof of the paranormal trumps any trepidation she may have and viewers quietly cheer Katrina and the team on while vacillating between wishing they were there, exploring the unknown, and being quite content to watch from the safety of their familiar couch.
HS : Is there any specific event from your past that sparked your interest in the paranormal?
KW : Yes! The first house I lived in (from the time I was born until age 6) had a lot of activity in it. I was very young at the time so all I remember was being scared to death to be left alone upstairs or in my bedroom. I have an older sister and I would constantly follow her downstairs. Even though we had our own rooms I fought to sleep in her bed.
My sister remembers a lot her experiences from that house. She used to see a man walk into the bathroom at night. According to her, this happened on several occasions. She also remembers seeing a little girl sitting on my bed. Assuming it was me, she thought nothing of it, until she got to the bottom of the stairs and I was sitting there putting together a puzzle. I actually remember this day, too. I was putting together a Winnie the Pooh puzzle and I remember my sister saying, “How did you do that!?” I obviously answered, “Do what?” Of course this went back and forth for some time until we realized that I couldn’t possibly have been in both places at once. Looking back at it, my sister does remember that there was something very “odd” about this little girl, although she could never put her finger on it. The next two families after that also experienced similar activity, all very childlike, and one of the last reports out of that house is a guest seeing a man walk down the attic stairs and disappear.
HS : Can you describe your first paranormal investigation and the feelings you experienced? Do you remember how it turned out?
KW : I remember it was mid-November 2006. I actually joined the investigation a day late because I was at a wedding the night before in Philadelphia. The team and I were investigating a house in between State College and Pittsburgh, PA. We named it “The Dark Man”. I remember feeling really shy, which if you know me, is NOT me at all! I was pretty quiet on that case as I had just met everyone, except Heather (my partner in crime). There was a crew of about twenty people, again, all of who I just met, and cameras were in my face the duration of the investigation. It was, to say the least, a little intimidating. I remember just wanting to do a good job. This is something I had always wanted to do and I just wanted to learn everything I could! The house felt uneasy. I’m not sure what was there, but if we’re labeling things I would say it was HAUNTED!
Heather and Eilfie shared the bed in the master bedroom and I was on the couch right next to the bed. I felt fine, until everyone started to fall asleep. I kept telling myself, “Even if you have to pee, you’re laying here!” I did not want to get up in the middle of the night in that house, that’s for sure! Evidence-wise, our crew had all their batteries drain consistently and they had numerous other problems with their equipment. We had a flashlight explode and overall everyone just had a very creepy feeling being there. I remember leaving and feeling really good about the work we had done. Helen, the client, had completely welcomed us into her home and treated us like family by the time we left. That is something I’ll never forget.
HS : Are there any special preparations you and the team make, whether physical, spiritual or emotional, before you enter a location or Dead Time that we don’t see on TV?
KW : I’m sure we all have something we do. Everyone is pretty private about it, though. For me, I just tell myself, “You can do this, don’t get scared”, because I still get scared from time to time. If I’m really scared I just ask for my brother to watch over me.
HS : You really do a great job interviewing children on a topic that I’m sure is frightening and confusing to them. They seem very at ease with you. How does your approach to interviewing children differ from that of interviewing adults?
KW : With children, you really need to take your time. It’s not something you can get done in ten minutes. You have to play with them, show them you’re fun and befriend them. We usually go to their bedroom because they feel the most comfortable and “at home” there and I ask them what kind of game(s) they want to play. Kids get bored if you ask them question after question after question. So we’ll play a game, then I’ll ask some questions, then play another game, then I’ll ask some more questions. I’ve never had to play a game with an adult client to get them to feel more at ease, but sometimes I wonder if it would help the process, just a little.
HS : Have you ever been frightened on a case (especially when it’s just you and your trusty “Katrina Cam” in a dark room)? If so, can you name an incident that frightened or, perhaps better, unsettled you the most? How do you cope with fear of the unknown?
KW : Yes! It was during the season four opener “Suicide Spirits”. Heather and I were in the kitchen after just hearing footsteps from above moments before, and we heard the basement door, which was just a few feet away, start to POUND, almost like someone was on the other side trying to kick it in. We ran! Our first thought was “someone broke into the house”. I don’t think I have ever held onto someone as tightly as I did that night! We took a few minutes and calmed ourselves down. After the initial fear and shock wore off, we remembered, “we are investigators and we have a job to do” so we went back in and checked it out. That’s usually what I say to myself whenever I do get scared, “you’re an investigator”, and I think about all the women out there who do this and that in some way I’m representing them and I’m not going to represent them by running out of a room with flailing arms screaming!
HS : With PRS, you have Eilfie on board as your resident demonologist. Do you feel all ghost hunting groups should have one as well, or at least someone they can contact in instances of a possible demonic haunting? In your experience, how often have you come across demonic entities?
KW : Eilfie is more of our resident Occultist. Whenever we do run into a darker haunting we usually consult with Lorraine Warren because she has worked on darker cases for the last forty some years. I do think it’s a good idea for teams to have specialists they can call on. Not just demonologists though, electricians, psychologists, doctors, etc. It’s always good to have people on hand that you trust because you may think you know how a case is going to go, but that can change quickly once you step into the field.
HS : What was your favorite investigation?
KW : My Favorite investigation was probably the “Pet Cemetery”, which aired during season one. I think it’s because if we got that case now, we probably wouldn’t even give it a second glance. The biggest thing the clients were claiming was that their dog was acting weird and that two previous dogs were hit by cars. Obviously, that stuff is pretty easy to explain away. There are a thousand different reasons why a dog would start acting different. Unbeknown to us at the time, there was actually something to it. Every owner of that house since the 1960s had a dog go haywire while living there, a complete personality change, then the dog would run out into the middle of the street and get hit by a car. This is a little town in Maine. Maybe ten cars travel on it per day, tops. The odds of four or five dogs getting hit by a car seemed pretty slim. Then low and behold, we find out a previous owner used to beat and kill dogs, for fun apparently. That was our AHA moment! I love this case because it showed us a thing or two, that even if it sounds outlandish or completely explainable, it just might not be. Never assume anything in this field.
HS : We all know that not every case reveals a haunting. How many investigations do you film for Paranormal State compared to the number that actually make it to air?
KW : We get asked this a lot. Every case we do is filmed and every case makes it to air. PRS has been an organization since 2001 and there were many cases that they investigated before the show came along, but since the show started everything has graced the screen. We are looking to do private investigations again. We all feel very strongly about that, however, with our schedule, it’s been hard to find the time to take on a private investigation. But it is something we’re working towards.
HS : Do you ever worry about “brining your work home” with you and finding you now have a haunting that’s attached itself to you?
KW : It’s really not something I’ve thought of or was concerned about. I did, however, have an experience after an investigation in Kentucky where I know something attached itself to me. Back home, I noticed that I had unconsciously changed my habits, like I wasn’t singing in the house…I normally to love to sing. I felt that someone was watching me and even heard breathing close to my ear a couple of times. I spoke to Ryan about it and he said not to give in to my fear because that would only give strength to whatever had found its way into my house. Thankfully, after 3 months, it eventually stopped and things went back to normal.
HS : Does filming during an investigation make it harder or easier to do your job?
KW : There have been times where it’s been harder. When you want to go investigate or talk to someone, you have to wait for the cameras. We haven’t always been great at that, but I think we’re pretty used to it now and it comes as second nature at this point. The only problem is when we run into people (witnesses or potential clients) who won’t appear on camera because they’re worried about how other people (the audience) will look at them. We have lost potential cases because of this. We also get the people who are just looking to be on TV, but we weed through them pretty quickly.
HS : I see PRS is now breaking from the Penn State campus and will become a national organization, yet the campus paranormal club will remain. Can you explain what that means for PRS?
KW : As of right now we are officially broken from Penn State. This is just because none of us are students and it was time to “stand on our own” if you will. At this point there is no longer a student club in existence, but there are students working to get the club up and running again.
HS : Are there any special haunted places you’d like PRS to visit in the future? What would be your dream investigation?
KW : I’d love to check out Waverly Hills, I’ve had so many investigators tell me crazy experiences they’ve had and I’ve seen some amazing evidence come out of there. My dream investigation though would be to investigate the house I grew up in. I’d like to finally have answers as to who or what was there.
HS : PRS seems to be a really tight knit family. Like any family, I’m sure you all have your ups and downs. How has it been working with Ryan, Sergey, Eilfie and Heather (just to name a few)? Who would you say you’re closest to?
KW : We definitely have our ups and downs. We have our arguments and our agreements, but we always manage to work everything out and come to a common ground, which is a key foundation in any relationship. I’d have to say I’m the closest to Heather. I think it’s because Heather and I went through training together, we were the newbies of the group, and Heather and I have a lot in common. I actually met her at my second meeting in PRS and we talked afterwards for a while. So we were becoming fast friends before we were picked for the team. Typical girls, what we both remember about each other the first time we met is each other’s shoes and how much we liked them.
HS : What’s next for you? Do you plan to stay with PRS and Paranormal State?
KW : Since I graduated I underwent training to become a crisis counselor and for the last two years I have been volunteering at a crisis centre. I definitely can’t wait to return to acting, music, writing, etc., but I don’t think I’ll ever leave the paranormal. It really is a passion and part of my roots. Every time I try to take a break from it I find myself picking up a book on ghosts, or doing research on UFOs, or telling a perfect stranger a ghost story with them giving me that, “she’s crazy” look. Being an investigator has been a great outlet to explore my passion for this field and given me the opportunity to meet and work with people who, just like me, want answers.
For those of you who don’t know Katrina, she is a Penn State graduate with a dual degree in Integrative Arts, Katrina was born and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She joined PRS in 2006 along with Heather and became the team’s interviewer as well as an investigator. When Dead Time comes around (Dead Time begins at 3 a.m., when spirit activity is purported to be at its most potent), you can be sure Katrina will be sitting vigil, calling out to any spirits in the room, inviting them to make a noise or touch her hand, with nothing but her Katrina Cam for company. In those moments, we see that Katrina isn’t Superwoman. She’s just the same as we would be in her shoes; curious, cautious, often times brave and sometimes scared. The search for proof of the paranormal trumps any trepidation she may have and viewers quietly cheer Katrina and the team on while vacillating between wishing they were there, exploring the unknown, and being quite content to watch from the safety of their familiar couch.
HS : Is there any specific event from your past that sparked your interest in the paranormal?
KW : Yes! The first house I lived in (from the time I was born until age 6) had a lot of activity in it. I was very young at the time so all I remember was being scared to death to be left alone upstairs or in my bedroom. I have an older sister and I would constantly follow her downstairs. Even though we had our own rooms I fought to sleep in her bed.
My sister remembers a lot her experiences from that house. She used to see a man walk into the bathroom at night. According to her, this happened on several occasions. She also remembers seeing a little girl sitting on my bed. Assuming it was me, she thought nothing of it, until she got to the bottom of the stairs and I was sitting there putting together a puzzle. I actually remember this day, too. I was putting together a Winnie the Pooh puzzle and I remember my sister saying, “How did you do that!?” I obviously answered, “Do what?” Of course this went back and forth for some time until we realized that I couldn’t possibly have been in both places at once. Looking back at it, my sister does remember that there was something very “odd” about this little girl, although she could never put her finger on it. The next two families after that also experienced similar activity, all very childlike, and one of the last reports out of that house is a guest seeing a man walk down the attic stairs and disappear.
HS : Can you describe your first paranormal investigation and the feelings you experienced? Do you remember how it turned out?
KW : I remember it was mid-November 2006. I actually joined the investigation a day late because I was at a wedding the night before in Philadelphia. The team and I were investigating a house in between State College and Pittsburgh, PA. We named it “The Dark Man”. I remember feeling really shy, which if you know me, is NOT me at all! I was pretty quiet on that case as I had just met everyone, except Heather (my partner in crime). There was a crew of about twenty people, again, all of who I just met, and cameras were in my face the duration of the investigation. It was, to say the least, a little intimidating. I remember just wanting to do a good job. This is something I had always wanted to do and I just wanted to learn everything I could! The house felt uneasy. I’m not sure what was there, but if we’re labeling things I would say it was HAUNTED!
Heather and Eilfie shared the bed in the master bedroom and I was on the couch right next to the bed. I felt fine, until everyone started to fall asleep. I kept telling myself, “Even if you have to pee, you’re laying here!” I did not want to get up in the middle of the night in that house, that’s for sure! Evidence-wise, our crew had all their batteries drain consistently and they had numerous other problems with their equipment. We had a flashlight explode and overall everyone just had a very creepy feeling being there. I remember leaving and feeling really good about the work we had done. Helen, the client, had completely welcomed us into her home and treated us like family by the time we left. That is something I’ll never forget.
HS : Are there any special preparations you and the team make, whether physical, spiritual or emotional, before you enter a location or Dead Time that we don’t see on TV?
KW : I’m sure we all have something we do. Everyone is pretty private about it, though. For me, I just tell myself, “You can do this, don’t get scared”, because I still get scared from time to time. If I’m really scared I just ask for my brother to watch over me.
HS : You really do a great job interviewing children on a topic that I’m sure is frightening and confusing to them. They seem very at ease with you. How does your approach to interviewing children differ from that of interviewing adults?
KW : With children, you really need to take your time. It’s not something you can get done in ten minutes. You have to play with them, show them you’re fun and befriend them. We usually go to their bedroom because they feel the most comfortable and “at home” there and I ask them what kind of game(s) they want to play. Kids get bored if you ask them question after question after question. So we’ll play a game, then I’ll ask some questions, then play another game, then I’ll ask some more questions. I’ve never had to play a game with an adult client to get them to feel more at ease, but sometimes I wonder if it would help the process, just a little.
HS : Have you ever been frightened on a case (especially when it’s just you and your trusty “Katrina Cam” in a dark room)? If so, can you name an incident that frightened or, perhaps better, unsettled you the most? How do you cope with fear of the unknown?
KW : Yes! It was during the season four opener “Suicide Spirits”. Heather and I were in the kitchen after just hearing footsteps from above moments before, and we heard the basement door, which was just a few feet away, start to POUND, almost like someone was on the other side trying to kick it in. We ran! Our first thought was “someone broke into the house”. I don’t think I have ever held onto someone as tightly as I did that night! We took a few minutes and calmed ourselves down. After the initial fear and shock wore off, we remembered, “we are investigators and we have a job to do” so we went back in and checked it out. That’s usually what I say to myself whenever I do get scared, “you’re an investigator”, and I think about all the women out there who do this and that in some way I’m representing them and I’m not going to represent them by running out of a room with flailing arms screaming!
HS : With PRS, you have Eilfie on board as your resident demonologist. Do you feel all ghost hunting groups should have one as well, or at least someone they can contact in instances of a possible demonic haunting? In your experience, how often have you come across demonic entities?
KW : Eilfie is more of our resident Occultist. Whenever we do run into a darker haunting we usually consult with Lorraine Warren because she has worked on darker cases for the last forty some years. I do think it’s a good idea for teams to have specialists they can call on. Not just demonologists though, electricians, psychologists, doctors, etc. It’s always good to have people on hand that you trust because you may think you know how a case is going to go, but that can change quickly once you step into the field.
HS : What was your favorite investigation?
KW : My Favorite investigation was probably the “Pet Cemetery”, which aired during season one. I think it’s because if we got that case now, we probably wouldn’t even give it a second glance. The biggest thing the clients were claiming was that their dog was acting weird and that two previous dogs were hit by cars. Obviously, that stuff is pretty easy to explain away. There are a thousand different reasons why a dog would start acting different. Unbeknown to us at the time, there was actually something to it. Every owner of that house since the 1960s had a dog go haywire while living there, a complete personality change, then the dog would run out into the middle of the street and get hit by a car. This is a little town in Maine. Maybe ten cars travel on it per day, tops. The odds of four or five dogs getting hit by a car seemed pretty slim. Then low and behold, we find out a previous owner used to beat and kill dogs, for fun apparently. That was our AHA moment! I love this case because it showed us a thing or two, that even if it sounds outlandish or completely explainable, it just might not be. Never assume anything in this field.
HS : We all know that not every case reveals a haunting. How many investigations do you film for Paranormal State compared to the number that actually make it to air?
KW : We get asked this a lot. Every case we do is filmed and every case makes it to air. PRS has been an organization since 2001 and there were many cases that they investigated before the show came along, but since the show started everything has graced the screen. We are looking to do private investigations again. We all feel very strongly about that, however, with our schedule, it’s been hard to find the time to take on a private investigation. But it is something we’re working towards.
HS : Do you ever worry about “brining your work home” with you and finding you now have a haunting that’s attached itself to you?
KW : It’s really not something I’ve thought of or was concerned about. I did, however, have an experience after an investigation in Kentucky where I know something attached itself to me. Back home, I noticed that I had unconsciously changed my habits, like I wasn’t singing in the house…I normally to love to sing. I felt that someone was watching me and even heard breathing close to my ear a couple of times. I spoke to Ryan about it and he said not to give in to my fear because that would only give strength to whatever had found its way into my house. Thankfully, after 3 months, it eventually stopped and things went back to normal.
HS : Does filming during an investigation make it harder or easier to do your job?
KW : There have been times where it’s been harder. When you want to go investigate or talk to someone, you have to wait for the cameras. We haven’t always been great at that, but I think we’re pretty used to it now and it comes as second nature at this point. The only problem is when we run into people (witnesses or potential clients) who won’t appear on camera because they’re worried about how other people (the audience) will look at them. We have lost potential cases because of this. We also get the people who are just looking to be on TV, but we weed through them pretty quickly.
HS : I see PRS is now breaking from the Penn State campus and will become a national organization, yet the campus paranormal club will remain. Can you explain what that means for PRS?
KW : As of right now we are officially broken from Penn State. This is just because none of us are students and it was time to “stand on our own” if you will. At this point there is no longer a student club in existence, but there are students working to get the club up and running again.
HS : Are there any special haunted places you’d like PRS to visit in the future? What would be your dream investigation?
KW : I’d love to check out Waverly Hills, I’ve had so many investigators tell me crazy experiences they’ve had and I’ve seen some amazing evidence come out of there. My dream investigation though would be to investigate the house I grew up in. I’d like to finally have answers as to who or what was there.
HS : PRS seems to be a really tight knit family. Like any family, I’m sure you all have your ups and downs. How has it been working with Ryan, Sergey, Eilfie and Heather (just to name a few)? Who would you say you’re closest to?
KW : We definitely have our ups and downs. We have our arguments and our agreements, but we always manage to work everything out and come to a common ground, which is a key foundation in any relationship. I’d have to say I’m the closest to Heather. I think it’s because Heather and I went through training together, we were the newbies of the group, and Heather and I have a lot in common. I actually met her at my second meeting in PRS and we talked afterwards for a while. So we were becoming fast friends before we were picked for the team. Typical girls, what we both remember about each other the first time we met is each other’s shoes and how much we liked them.
HS : What’s next for you? Do you plan to stay with PRS and Paranormal State?
KW : Since I graduated I underwent training to become a crisis counselor and for the last two years I have been volunteering at a crisis centre. I definitely can’t wait to return to acting, music, writing, etc., but I don’t think I’ll ever leave the paranormal. It really is a passion and part of my roots. Every time I try to take a break from it I find myself picking up a book on ghosts, or doing research on UFOs, or telling a perfect stranger a ghost story with them giving me that, “she’s crazy” look. Being an investigator has been a great outlet to explore my passion for this field and given me the opportunity to meet and work with people who, just like me, want answers.
February 6, 2012
Getting the Book Deal and How It Nearly Killed Me
The title of this post is no exaggeration. The entire process of writing my novel, Forest of Shadows, and getting it sold very nearly ended my life…sort of. More on that in a bit.
I’ve been a fan of horror ever since I was a kid. The passion for writing horror overtook me somewhere in my early twenties. I dabbled with horror short stories, then spent years writing non-horror novels so I could get in the practice and find my voice for my first big horror novel. Once I felt I was ready (which meant I had spent almost a decade writing and thirty years reading as much as humanly possible) and I had a concept that could sustain a novel, I got to writing. All along I had one goal : to have it published by Leisure Horror (part of Dorchester Publishing). Leisure was the gold standard for horror publishing, thanks in large part to the leadership and skill of editor Don D’Auria. I consumed Leisure novels like Jaws munched on skinny dippers. I wanted in the Leisure Club more than anything in the world.
I spent the next 4 years writing my book, originally titled Frozen Harbor. After going through a dozen rewrites, I felt it was good to go and I immediately sent my query letter to Leisure’s slush pile (this is the massive mountian of unagented queries and manuscripts that sit in every publishing house). I knew the odds of getting out of the pile were slimmer than Kate Moss, but I had a goal and I was going to live or die with it.
A little under a year later, I received a letter asking to see the first few chapters. I nearly jumped out of my shoes, but knew in the back of my mind this was by no means an acceptance. So I sent it. And waited. And waited some more.
Over a year after that, I recevied another letter asking for the entire manuscript. OK, there was obviously some interest. It had been almost two years now, and every time I was about to give up, the fates came along to reignite my hopes. Could they be so cruel as to guide me to shore, only to dash me on the rocks? Being a New York pessimist, I leaned to that being the case.
I kid you not when I say I had all but forgotten that I had sent in my manuscript when a year and a half later, while checking my email, I saw a letter from Don at Leisure. Holy crap! He liked the book! He wanted to publish it! I had my deal with my dream publisher and editor! I was at work when I opened the email, and after almost having a stroke, I rushed home to celebrate.
The next few months were spent getting an agent and working with Don on the book and getting the final details done on the contract. I was flying higher than Balloon Boy. Naturally, the fates saw my happiness and stepped right in to kick my ass in short order. Dorchester Publishing, after 40 years in business, was in complete upheaval. They weren’t paying authors and had decided to stop printing paperbacks. Don parted ways with them just before I signed my final contract. The deal was dead.
And so, nearly, was I. Granted, the turn of events made me physically, emotionally and spiritually ill. But it was the horror writer doppelganger in me that nearly died last summer. I was done. No matter how happy a face I put on, I figured that part of my life had taken a permanent dirt nap. I didn’t have another 8 years in me to do this all over again. R.I.P.
Here’s where agents can be a godsend. My agent, Louise Fury (with the L. Perkins Agency), did her best to keep my spirits up. “Don’t panic. If it was good enough for Don, it can be sold elsewhere. We can even wait to see where Don lands and hope he’ll still be editing horror.”
So I waited. But this time it was much less than 8 years. It was only 5 months. Don joined Samhain Publishing and yes, he still wanted my book! The dead part of me had been revived (kinda like a zombie, only without the eating flesh part). So yes, the entire process did nearly kill a very real part of me. But like any good movie monster, I live! And as long as I live, I will continue to write.
Forest of ShadowsHunter Shea
I’ve been a fan of horror ever since I was a kid. The passion for writing horror overtook me somewhere in my early twenties. I dabbled with horror short stories, then spent years writing non-horror novels so I could get in the practice and find my voice for my first big horror novel. Once I felt I was ready (which meant I had spent almost a decade writing and thirty years reading as much as humanly possible) and I had a concept that could sustain a novel, I got to writing. All along I had one goal : to have it published by Leisure Horror (part of Dorchester Publishing). Leisure was the gold standard for horror publishing, thanks in large part to the leadership and skill of editor Don D’Auria. I consumed Leisure novels like Jaws munched on skinny dippers. I wanted in the Leisure Club more than anything in the world.
I spent the next 4 years writing my book, originally titled Frozen Harbor. After going through a dozen rewrites, I felt it was good to go and I immediately sent my query letter to Leisure’s slush pile (this is the massive mountian of unagented queries and manuscripts that sit in every publishing house). I knew the odds of getting out of the pile were slimmer than Kate Moss, but I had a goal and I was going to live or die with it.
A little under a year later, I received a letter asking to see the first few chapters. I nearly jumped out of my shoes, but knew in the back of my mind this was by no means an acceptance. So I sent it. And waited. And waited some more.
Over a year after that, I recevied another letter asking for the entire manuscript. OK, there was obviously some interest. It had been almost two years now, and every time I was about to give up, the fates came along to reignite my hopes. Could they be so cruel as to guide me to shore, only to dash me on the rocks? Being a New York pessimist, I leaned to that being the case.
I kid you not when I say I had all but forgotten that I had sent in my manuscript when a year and a half later, while checking my email, I saw a letter from Don at Leisure. Holy crap! He liked the book! He wanted to publish it! I had my deal with my dream publisher and editor! I was at work when I opened the email, and after almost having a stroke, I rushed home to celebrate.
The next few months were spent getting an agent and working with Don on the book and getting the final details done on the contract. I was flying higher than Balloon Boy. Naturally, the fates saw my happiness and stepped right in to kick my ass in short order. Dorchester Publishing, after 40 years in business, was in complete upheaval. They weren’t paying authors and had decided to stop printing paperbacks. Don parted ways with them just before I signed my final contract. The deal was dead.
And so, nearly, was I. Granted, the turn of events made me physically, emotionally and spiritually ill. But it was the horror writer doppelganger in me that nearly died last summer. I was done. No matter how happy a face I put on, I figured that part of my life had taken a permanent dirt nap. I didn’t have another 8 years in me to do this all over again. R.I.P.
Here’s where agents can be a godsend. My agent, Louise Fury (with the L. Perkins Agency), did her best to keep my spirits up. “Don’t panic. If it was good enough for Don, it can be sold elsewhere. We can even wait to see where Don lands and hope he’ll still be editing horror.”
So I waited. But this time it was much less than 8 years. It was only 5 months. Don joined Samhain Publishing and yes, he still wanted my book! The dead part of me had been revived (kinda like a zombie, only without the eating flesh part). So yes, the entire process did nearly kill a very real part of me. But like any good movie monster, I live! And as long as I live, I will continue to write.
Forest of ShadowsHunter Shea
