Konn Lavery's Blog: Posts from konnlavery.com, page 31
July 15, 2019
A Darker Side to Him
Literary Titan has welcomed me back to chat about The White Hand Novel. Read the interview on their website. We cover the following:
The White Hand is a genre-crossing novel with elements of a macabre thriller and romance as well. Did you start writing with this in mind, or did this happen organically as you were writing?
How did you create Alastor and Spalding’s characters in a way that contrasted yet still supported the characters development?
What was your inspiration for the setup of the story and how did that help you create the ending?
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be published?
The post A Darker Side to Him appeared first on Konn Lavery.
June 28, 2019
Behind You
Do you ever get the sense that someone is watching you? It is a pretty common feeling, and most people experience it at some point in their life. Chances are it is just a minor form of paranoia. Sometimes it is not. Sometimes… someone is watching. Or ‘they’ might be the better term. ‘They’ are following.
Behind You is June’s flash fiction that brings readers into a psychological horror of paranoia. Enjoy the story in written word, audio, artwork and soundscape.
Behind You
Paranoia
I used to enjoy life. Outside has so many wonders to see.
The world is much larger than most people give it credit for. Sure, the
Internet has drastically made things smaller by connecting people around the
globe. The Earth itself, however, is astronomical in size. Anyways, exploring
outside is something all of us do as a kid. I know I did. Not so much now. My
mom and dad wouldn’t let me go too far. They always said the streets were
dangerous. I didn’t understand why. It looked like a pretty safe neighbourhood
from what I saw inside of my home. Perhaps I wasn’t visible from the window,
being a small child, peeking out into the dangers.
Now, I understand why my mom would get mad at me if I stared
outside for too long. Or if I wandered too far away from them without
supervision. Mom said there were ugly people in the world. She said there were
horrors out there. I believe her now. There’s a certain level of bliss that you
have when being a kid. The innocence of a child overlooks all of the terrible things
that are in the shadows, in the cracks, or those that are peeking around the
corner. What was that cliché again? Oh yes, the devil is in the details.
Over the years, mom and dad were growing tired. Maybe they let
their guard down, or perhaps they decided that there is no point in fighting
the inevitable. The impending doom. They are always watching. You might
not know exactly where ‘they’ are, but I guarantee they aren’t far behind. You
know that feeling of someone watching you? It’s them. Whether you’re home
alone, or on the sidewalk, or the grocery store, it doesn’t matter – they are
there. They always are. It’s the reason for that tingling feeling on the back.
Your hearing amplifies. It picks up the most subtle of details. Then, when you
turn to look, you see nothing. I’ve dubbed them the Lightless Ones. We’ll get
to that definition.
Most of us just write these experiences off as if there is
nothing there. Easy to do. Just say it’s just our own paranoid delusions that
are confusing us. We’re all a little crazy, some more than others. I sometimes
wonder if I am the craziest of them all. The Lightless Ones started watching me
from a young age. I know that much. I don’t exactly know what they want, even
to this day, after a couple decades on. I’m not the only one aware of them.
Conspiracy theorists, crack monkeys, delusional fools, pick your title, they
know about the Lightless Ones. They all are willing to admit there is something
more to that feeling. The sensation of something being near. The Lightless Ones
are behind you. I know it. You know it now.
First Sighting
It all started when I was in my senior year of high school.
I took the same path as I always did across the football field to the bus stop.
In that field, I saw a man walking on the outside of the fence of the school
property. It was at the corner of my eye. For all I knew it could’ve been a
strand of my long hair that got in my face. It was windy. That’s what I thought
the being was. Yet it seemed to walk with me. The closer I got to the edge of
the school property I got; it was still there. I could easily distinguish limbs
in a walking motion. Yet, this man was as black as my hair – hence the name
‘Lightless Ones.’ I stopped. I looked directly at the man, but they vanished.
It was as if they were never there. I spun around a couple of times, trying to
see where they were. I couldn’t find them. It was weird, but I made the
conclusion that it was just my head playing tricks on me.
The wind-hair theory only lasted a week. More subtle signs
started showing up. In the classroom, I could see someone watching from the
window of the closed door that led into the hallway. Just like in the field, I
could see them from the corner of my eye. When I looked, the person was gone.
Apparently, I was ‘daydreaming’ as my math teacher put it. He said I should
focus more on my grades. I truly tried to. The Lightless Ones kept distracting
me. I don’t think their goal was to have me fail high school, because I
eventually graduated. I didn’t have any remarkable scores, though. Oh well.
Goodbye Family
Dad was the first to die. It was from a heart attack. None
of the neighbours seemed to care too much when my mom was wailing in pain at
the discovery of her husband on the kitchen floor. Poor mom. We had a funeral.
A few relatives that came by, but that is it. A lot of people began to distance
themselves from us as I got older. I didn’t have a lot of friends in high
school. There was Scratchy Jim and Hot Jane. I did have a thing for Hot Jane. I
don’t think she really knew. She always liked the pretty boys. My acne-infused
face probably wasn’t much of a turn on for her. Scratchy Jim and Hot Jane tried
to keep me distracted from the death of my father. It worked for a while, until
my mom took her own life. I’ll always remember the silhouette of my mom hanging
from the ceiling in the garage. That silhouette, a human shape, all black, just
like the Lightless Ones… always at the corner of your eye.
She had left a suicide note. It talked about them, the
Lightless Ones. The silhouettes. The whole letter was about five-and-a-half pages
long. Most of her words seemed like ramblings. Probably because of the empty bottle
of Jamison’s on the floor beside her hanging body. I still have that last note
to me. She mentioned that she saw them all the time. It is why she
wanted to keep me safe indoors. That explained the homeschooling. My dad
convinced her to let me go to high school. He believed it was good for me to
interact with other kids. Mom was too scared and now I know why. In the note, Mom
mentioned that the Lightless Ones spooked my father, causing the heart attack.
My mom was tired and had given up. She apologized greatly in the note and said
how much he loved me. Yeah… she loved me so much she left me to deal with them
on my own.
My parent’s deaths were only a couple months apart. This was
a year after high school. I inherited the house and all of their possessions.
Technically, I was an adult now so I was on my own. I had considered
postsecondary education but was too depressed after their deaths. I continued working
at the grocery store down the road. I took the same route there five days a
week, passing through the neighbourhood, the bar, and the apartment complex.
Mom and dad were gone. I had a home. High School was over. That’s
when I started to see the Lightless Ones more frequently. That tingling
sensation. I swear my ears twitched anytime a rattling sound occurred. I can’t
even make them move – they did that on their own. I would frantically spin
around, trying to see where the sound came from. Sometimes I’d see one of the
Lightless Ones, as always, from the corner of my eye. People would watch me,
thinking I was crazy. At first, I felt ashamed until I realized that they
weren’t just any people. These people were familiars of the Lightless Ones. Or
maybe they weren’t and just wanted to watch a delusional freak spaz out. Either
way, all eyes were on me. Especially when I was shouting at the Lightless Ones to
stop following.
Goodbye Friends
I tried to tell Scratchy Jim and Hot Jane. Scratchy Jim was
a little more open to hearing my story. He’d say he was there for me in that
typical raspy voice of his. Hot Jane wasn’t so accommodating. She had a stud
for her boyfriend and was accepted into post-secondary education in the next
province over. My confessions of seeing the Lightless Ones was the last time I
physically saw Hot Jane. I miss those freckles. She moved with her boyfriend
and started her new life. She had no reason to keep Scratchy Jim or myself around.
Despite the Internet making the world really small, Hot Jane had vanished
entirely. The world is a big place. You can disappear still. It makes me wonder
if she felt sorry for me in high school and was never really my friend.
Scratchy Jim stayed around, at least for a little while. He was one of those
guys that liked to experiment with drugs – of all kinds. It started with snorting
prescription pills, some weed, speeds, and eventually down to the smack road.
That’s when he began to distance himself. He would hang around those heroin dens.
I tried to visit him, but he wasn’t exactly there. My last visit I spotted a
Lightless One in the den and freaked out. Sorry Scratchy Jim.
With Hot Jane gone, and Scratchy Jim chasing the Golden
Dragon, I didn’t have a lot of other people to talk to. I still don’t. My
coworkers at the grocery store were either old people, or they didn’t speak
English. A lot of the other kids from high school had now graduated
postsecondary education or moved away. They wouldn’t want to hang out with
someone like me.
My walks to and from work became more stressful. The
Lightless Ones weren’t just at the corner of my eye anymore. I could see them
walking right past me. They showed up more often late at night. On my walks
home, I’d think it was a person in the dark until I got close enough to them to
realize that light didn’t cast on their forms – they were pitch black. I would
try to walk on the other side of the street as they continued to walk. Eventually,
I’d pass them. It worked a couple of times, and I began to wonder if they were
simply ghosts or something co-existing in our world. Then the Lightless Ones
started to turn around and follow me. They were fast. They’d hit things,
causing loud sounds to echo down the street. I would run down the middle of the
road, keeping as visible as possible. The Lightless Ones didn’t care, they
would chase me until I made it back home. I locked the doors. They waited
outside. I kept the lights off so they wouldn’t know exactly where was. Home
seems to be the only place they didn’t invade. They could only watch.
Forced Seclusion
Eventually, I started to keep the curtains closed all the
time. I did this more frequently in the mornings. The Lightless Ones are easy
to spot during the day due to the high contrast of their black forms and the
sunlit environment. I could maneuver around them, but they would appear around
corners, trees, or in windows. Seeing them in windows confirmed my theory about
the familiars. The Lightless Ones would be beside the humans watching me in the
windows. These people worked for them. The familiars were on the street too.
They’d act like they were looking at their phones or newspapers, but I could
see their eyes. They were watching, taking note, and seeing what was going to do
next. Some of the familiars would follow me to work and act like they were
buying something. That wasn’t going to work on me. My mom warned me about what
they were doing in her note. The familiars wanted to take me to the Lightless
Ones. They want to make me one of the familiars, forever enslaved.
My manager saw my performance at work start to decline. I
had shouted at some of the customers – who are actually familiars – and they filed
complaints against me. My manager changed me over to the night shift so could
stock the shelves and have less interaction with customers. At least there was the
premium pay for nighttime work. The dark was dangerous. The Lightless Ones had
camouflage. I started carrying a knife around with me. I really had no idea if the
Lightless Ones were capable of experiencing physical pain. The worst-case I
could at least attack one of their familiars.
My manager started to give me fewer shifts. Every walk home,
I would firmly grasp my pocketknife that was tucked inside my hoodie. My heart
raced. The Lightless Ones and their familiars would walk around me. I would
shout at them – telling them to stay away from me. I threaten them with my
knife. It worked. Except for one walk home, they were more aggressive. From
every corner, their blackheads peeked out. The windows had familiars watching
me. They were in cars. At the bus stops. They were behind me. I ran as fast as
I could down the road.
I swear that some of the familiars tried to run me over in
their cars. I couldn’t help but wonder how long they have been watching. If the
Lightless Ones were stalking my mom, and she managed to avoid them until her
death, did they stalk my grandmother too? Or my grandfather? I had no idea. I
just knew I had to run. Eventually I made it home, struggling to get my keys
out of my pocket. I dropped them once. Snagging them I found the right key to
the unlock the door. With my hand shaking, I managed to twist it open, pushed
the door aside, and stepped inside. I could feel one of them grabbed hold of my
back. I slammed the door shut and locked it. Panting heavily, I collapsed onto
the floor as tears began to run down my face. They were everywhere.
Best Course of Action
That’s when I decided I couldn’t work anymore. I stopped showing
up for my shifts. My boss must’ve been concerned because the police eventually
showed up at my doorstep. Part of me wondered if they were familiars too, but
they seem to be okay. They interviewed me asking if I was on anything. I wasn’t
on drugs. I’m not that kind of person. I was stable. I had a good sense of
judgment. That’s how I noticed the Lightless Ones. They will drive anyone crazy.
The police determined there was nothing wrong with me and decide to leave me
alone. Now, I could stay safe. I covered every window with curtains and taped
tinfoil to prevent the Lightless Ones from seeing inside. Rarely do go I go
outside. Anytime I take a peek through the glass to the outside world, I see
them. I tried to take photographs, but they always come out blurry. They must
have some sort of electromagnetic field that distorts technology. It makes you
wonder: are they aliens? Other dimensional beings? Or am I merely suffering
from paranoid delusions? I have no answers. I tried to connect with others on
the Internet – the world shrinking device – to see if anyone else has seen the
Lightless Ones. There are similar stories. Some of these people also believe in
Bigfoot. Where else was I going to turn to? It’s not like anyone else locally
saw sees them. At least I can vent to people on message boards. That is one
good thing about the ever-shrinking world, it connects those who are trapped. The
Lightless Onesa choose who they show themselves to. They select specific people
to be their familiars and they sure as hell aren’t going to convert me. I’ll
fight this to the bitter end.
This is where I find myself today. Alone. I document as much of it as I can online. I wonder if the Lightless Ones are getting smarter, or if my judgment is getting worse. Either way, I have had a difficult time determining who is a familiar and who is not. I stay away from the outside world and people. I don’t know who is a familiar. The Lightless Ones also have better forms of camouflage. I’ve seen half human and half otherworldly. Hybrids. They are evolving. I question how much longer can fend them off. As the months go by, I begin to understand why my mom ended her own life. It may be the only route of escape if I don’t want to be absorbed. This is what I contemplate, as I sit on my bathroom floor, writing this note with one sweaty hand, and the other holding my pocketknife.
The post Behind You appeared first on Konn Lavery.
June 26, 2019
Book Launched!
Unlike last month, which was about leisurely time, June’s unprocessed thoughts is the aftermath of having the book launched! The White Hand, a Rutherford Manor novel, is now available. The past couple weeks have been a real whirlwind hence the blog falling on the back burner. Posts have been less frequent, hence why there is only been three per month, so I can spend more time writing on the next book. Now that this book launched, we can get back on track with the blog.
Welcome to another edition of Unprocessed Thoughts
between the VIP launch, the official launch at Audrey’s, and
the Calgary Horror Con, The White Hand has been successful launch. The press
kit, interviews, early access reviews, and award submissions were all organized
and submitted in time for release. Wow. Launching a book is a lot of work. It
makes the writing part seem a lot easier.
Once a book is launched, there’s the post-release effort of
promoting the book. You want to get it in as many hands as possible. The work
never fully stops with a book release. With every new book that is published,
it supports the backlog of previous titles. Each one contributes to your author
career, and your author brand.
Every year that I have pursued writing professionally since
2012, I have grown a little wiser and a little smarter. Always take advice from
those that are more experienced than you. Also learn from your mistakes so you
can avoid them in the future. Be careful not to overanalyze which is the
category I fall under. More often than not, I will overthink about what I did
during the process of a new book. This includes the initial idea, first draft,
editing, prerelease, and post-launch. You can drive yourself mad if you think
about it too much. Realistically all we can do is our best, take notes, and
improve on the next launch. This is why am pleased about the launch of The White
Hand. It is one of the smoothest releases I’ve had to date.
A book launched, what’s next?
Now that The White Hand has been released, I’ve been asking
myself what’s next? If you’ve been following the Instagram or Facebook stories,
you’ll see that I have been busy working on the next book. The about section
has been updated with the status of where it is at. The work that I am putting
in this year is to have an exciting next year. The plan is to have it be a big
push for the author career. It is the start of a new decade in 2020. So why not
make it big?
Working smarter, not harder
in the spirit of learning and growing every year, I am in
the process of finding ways to work smarter and not as hard. It is easy to spin
your wheels and do the grind. When you are grinding, you don’t get a chance to
take a step back and see how you can improve on your workflow. Maybe you don’t
have to metaphorically break your back. This is where I’m at now in 2019. I am finding
the best ways to do the important work and reduce the amount of unnecessary
work.
I’ll have to write a blog post once this experimentation is done.
That way I can share with everyone who is looking to improve their writing process
and career. For now, keep watch on the Instagram stories to see what I’ll be
doing next. Also, the events have been updated see can see where I will be at
the summer. Thank you all for the support.
Beer Note: Red Bison Party Pants Pale Ale
Red Bison Party Pants Pale Ale is light and easily drinkable. It says on
the back to put you in a good mood, and it does. Something that could easily be
a couple of drinks or more. If you’re a fan of slight oat hints, grab this one!
The post Book Launched! appeared first on Konn Lavery.
June 25, 2019
Paradigm Theatre Presents Author Konn Lavery
Free Event! Konn Lavery is a Canadian author whose work
has been recognized by Edmonton’s top five bestseller charts and by
reviewers such as Readers’ Favorite, and Literary Titan.
He started writing stories at a young age while being homeschooled.
After graduating from graphic design college, he began professionally
pursuing his writing with his first release, Reality. He continues to write in the thriller, horror, and fantasy genres.
Join Konn as he discusses his novels and answers questions from the audience.
Date and Time
Sun, August 18, 2019
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM MDT
Location
The Dai Scott Stage at Hazeldean Hall
9630 66 Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T6E 4W9
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Dr. Bruce Olav Solheim– Historical/Paranormal Author, and Radio Show Host
This month’s guest author is Dr. Bruce Olav Solheim who has a
PhD in history from the Bowling Green State University. He has served six years
in the US Army as a jail guard and later as a helicopter pilot. He has
published eight books and written ten plays, two of them which he has produced.
Let’s learn more about Dr. Bruce Olav Solheim and welcome
him to the blog!
Thank you for joining us Dr. Bruce Olav Solheim, can you give us a brief
introduction to yourself?
My parents came from Northern Norway to the United States
after World War II where they lived under Nazi occupation. I was born in
Seattle in 1958. I have served six years in the US Army, worked five years at
Boeing, and have taught college history for 28 years. I was also a Fulbright
scholar and professor in 2003. I have four children, one grandchild, and another
grandchild on the way.
Eight books and ten plays, wow! What was your first release and how has
your writing evolved since then?
The doctoral dissertation, the Nordic Nexus. It was a study
of the Nordic region during the Cold War. I was a pure academic in those days,
now I write plays, children’s books, and paranormal non-fiction, and a comic
book that is coming out later this year.
What do you prefer more, literary writing or play script writing?
I enjoy both. Playwrighting is a communal adventure because
you work with directors, producers, actors, lighting and props managers, and
set designers. Literary writing is a solitary thing, until you publish and then
it is open to the world.
A lot of your work has political themes and subjects. Do you think your
time in the army has influenced your writing?
Definitely. My time in the army influences my day to day
living. Since I am a disabled veteran, a day doesn’t go by that I don’t think
about the military, both good and bad. I believe that people need to do
something everyday to make our world better and alleviate the suffering of
others. Action!
Tell us about your latest novel, Timeless,
A Paranormal Personal History.
It is a memoir of my paranormal experiences since age four.
The first Timeless book documents 34 such events ranging from ghosts to demons,
angels to telekinesis. My second book, Timeless Deja Vu, just came out and it
adds 31 more stories and goes farther and deeper dealing with the nature of
reality, mediumship, and alien contact. The third Timeless book will come out
next year, Timeless Trinity, and it will be the most spiritual of the books.
Can you tell us about your radio show that you host?
Timeless Esoterica covers the paranormal, supernatural,
alien life, conspiracies, and hidden history. I interview exciting guests who
have lived, experienced, and/or written about their unusual adventures. My
first guest was world renowned paranormal scientist Dr. Dean Radin. I have also
interviewed abductees, an eyewitness to the JFK assassination and other
interesting folks.
For aspiring authors, what type of advice would you give a first-time
author?
I’m always compelled to write something. Be bold and write
about what compels you and what you think is important regardless of what
others tell you or what the market is indicating. Be true to yourself, take
chances, be honest, and let the cards fall where they may.
Let’s thank Dr.
Bruce Olav Solheim for joining us again to the blog!
You can find Dr. Solheim’s work on his website, amazon, and
the various links below:
Website: bruceolavsolheim.comAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ADr.+Bruce+Olav+Solheim+PHD&s=relevancerank&text=Dr.+Bruce+Olav+Solheim+PHD&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1Twitter: @bruceosolheimGoodreadsFacebook: @timelessparanormal
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June 24, 2019
Book Signing at Strathcona Chapters
I’ll be heading over to Chapters Strathcona (Whyte Ave) for a signing of my novels. Drop in for a meet & greet the author, artwork, and of course, the books themselves.
When and Where:
Saturday, August 31 from 11:00am – 4:00pm
Chapters Strathcona
10504 82nd Avenue,
Edmonton, AlbertaT6E 2A4
The post Book Signing at Strathcona Chapters appeared first on Konn Lavery.
Calgary Indigo Signal Hill Book Signing 2019
I’ll now be heading over to the one and only Indigo Signal Hill for a signing of The White Hand. Drop in for a meet & greet the author, artwork, and of course, the books themselves.
When and Where:
Sunday, August 11th from 11:00am – 4:00pm
Indigo 5570 Signal Hill Centre SW,
Calgary,
AB T3H 3P8
Mark your calendars.
The post Calgary Indigo Signal Hill Book Signing 2019 appeared first on Konn Lavery.
When Words Collide 2019
I am pleased to say I will be participating at When Words Collide
this year. I will be offering: A presentation DIY Graphic Design for
Authors. A panel for introduction to self publishing. I will also be
participating in the signing session.
Review the program guide for exact times.
When and Where:
August 9-11, 2018
Delta Calgary South,
Calgary, Alberta
Learn the full program at the When Words Collide website.
Speed through NaNoWriMo 2019
November may seem way off into the future, but now is the time to plan. In this workshop you will learn techniques to help you succeed at reaching that first draft of 50,000 words in 30 days (or less). We will look at methods of planning, reference material,and the power ofwriting sprints during NaNoWriMo.
The Resurgence of Horror
Chris Marrs, Colleen Anderson,Konn Lavery,Rena Mason
With books such as Bird Box and The Silence being made into successful Netflix films, The Little Stranger and Stephen King’s It and Pet Sematary intobox-office movies, and classics like Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle into series, horror is experiencing a resurgence. Tor has recently announced they are launching a new horror imprint. Popular horror of now is not what it was in the 80s and 90s with slash and gore cheese.
D.I.Y. Graphic Design
Authors are required to wear many hats beyond writing. This includes doing graphic design for marketing material and book covers. How can you craft engaging visual work that reflects the quality of your writing? In this workshop, learn some basic design fundamentals such as typography, colour theory,and layout. You will also be introduced to the various available tools at your fingertips.
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RPG-A-THON Convention
This year I will be at the first RPG-A-THON in Edmonton.
RPG-A-Thon welcomes everybody to a weekend of unbridled nerdiness!
Dress in your favorite cosplay, play and peruse an assortment of board games with your friends, or spend your hard earned gold on strange and splendorous treasures, some of which are crafted here by your local artisans.
Witness as The Underworld LARP (live action roleplaying) Guildhouse puts on a show that’s not for the weak of stomach or the faint of heart.
Where?
Boyle Street Plaza
9538 103ave, NW, Edmonton, AB
When?
July 13, 10a.m. – 8p.m.
July 14, 10a.m. – 6 p.m.
How much?
Tickets are sold at the door.
$10.00 per person, per day,
$15.00 per person, for the weekend
Kids 12 and under are free!
What now?
Mark your calendars and spread the word about RPG-A-Thon!
Note: minors aged 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult.
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Interview with DAZE Magazine
DAZE Magazine had an interview with me regarding The White Hand, a Rutherford Manor, novel where we chatted about how the novel came into be, what is Rutherford Manor, and what readers can expect in The White Hand.
Read the full interview on DAZE Magazine.
The post Interview with DAZE Magazine appeared first on Konn Lavery.
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