Auden Johnson's Blog, page 16

Your Free Haunted Dark Fantasy Book

“I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.”

Happy Halloween!!! To celebrate the Month of Horror, I have a gift for you. A free dark fantasy/paranormal ebook, The Unburned Island!



Excerpt
A scream opened the silence. Not a panic, fear-fill cry. This was the sound of a deranged predator catching the scent of its prey. It sounded like shifter cries. The screams were far away and getting closer. Fear was irrational. The shifters were hostile but they’d never kill anyone. Roars shook the forest. That wasn’t the sound of someone trying to be threatening. Those shifters wanted blood. The demons did something to them.

En stuffed the emergency supplies back in the bag. He gathered Kiran in his arms and stood.

“We need to hide,” he said.

“From shifters. Are you insane?” Sona said. “They can smell us.”

“Leta?” En turned to the dragon.

“I can’t fly you but I can burn them.”

En clicked his tongue. “I’d rather not kill them. We’d be in more trouble later.”

“Forget your trouble.” Sona was almost screaming. “I’d rather be alive later.”

“Find us a place to hide,” En said through his teeth.

The screams were closer now. The shifters knew where they were but for some reason they were moving slowly. They hadn’t transformed.

Sona swore. He handed his bag to Leria and transformed. Leta too handed Leria his bag and shifted. Sona sniffed the air. He folded his tall ears back and raced across the forest. They ran after him. The savage cries chased them.

Branches reached for them. Roots tried to trip them. The land seemed to come alive with one purpose, get in their way.

Fire lit the forest. Intense heat burned the back of her neck. The screams turned to angry growls.



Free until November 2.Download Now.  
Spread the word!

Your Free Haunted Halloween Book

“I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.”

Happy Halloween!!! To celebrate the Month of Horror, I have a gift for you. A free dark fantasy/paranormal ebook, The Unburned Island!



Excerpt
A scream opened the silence. Not a panic, fear-fill cry. This was the sound of a deranged predator catching the scent of its prey. It sounded like shifter cries. The screams were far away and getting closer. Fear was irrational. The shifters were hostile but they’d never kill anyone. Roars shook the forest. That wasn’t the sound of someone trying to be threatening. Those shifters wanted blood. The demons did something to them.

En stuffed the emergency supplies back in the bag. He gathered Kiran in his arms and stood.

“We need to hide,” he said.

“From shifters. Are you insane?” Sona said. “They can smell us.”

“Leta?” En turned to the dragon.

“I can’t fly you but I can burn them.”

En clicked his tongue. “I’d rather not kill them. We’d be in more trouble later.”

“Forget your trouble.” Sona was almost screaming. “I’d rather be alive later.”

“Find us a place to hide,” En said through his teeth.

The screams were closer now. The shifters knew where they were but for some reason they were moving slowly. They hadn’t transformed.

Sona swore. He handed his bag to Leria and transformed. Leta too handed Leria his bag and shifted. Sona sniffed the air. He folded his tall ears back and raced across the forest. They ran after him. The savage cries chased them.

Branches reached for them. Roots tried to trip them. The land seemed to come alive with one purpose, get in their way.

Fire lit the forest. Intense heat burned the back of her neck. The screams turned to angry growls.


Free until November 2.Download Now.  
Spread the word!

Read Pirate’s Curse, a Paranormal Fantasy, by Leigh Anderson & Rebecca Hamilton

Pirate’s Curse: Division 1by Leigh Anderson & Rebecca Hamilton
(The Berkano Vampire Collection)
Publication date: October 22nd 2017
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Once upon a time, a vampire and a witch fell in love, and that love fractured the world. Now divided into sixteen isolated Divisions, the world is an unstable and dangerous place.
In the Division of NOLA, Catheryn Beauregard fears her burgeoning magical powers. Hiding as just another slave in the home of the Hoodoo Queen, Catheryn hopes her simplistic powers will simply go unnoticed. And her plan seems to be working…until the Hoodoo House is attacked by a ruthless band of vampire pirates.Captain Rainier Dulocke and his crew need humans to feed on. In an act of desperation, they beset the Hoodoo House and take ten slaves to sustain them. Rainier takes a girl named Catheryn for himself, but her blood is giving him terrible side effects. Still, he refuses to give her up. Even when the Hoodoo Queen demands her return.The NOLA Division is in danger. The waters are rising. Food is running out. And the Hoodoo Queen is about to destroy everything that’s left if the pirates don’t meet her request. Now Catheryn must choose who will die: the humans who sold her, the witches who bought her, or the vampires who stole her. If she fails to decide, everyone could die.PIRATE’S CURSE is a standalone contribution to The Berkano Vampire collection. Stories can be read in any order. To learn more, visit FallenSorcery.com
Goodreads |  Amazon


Don’t breathe, Catheryn thought. If you breathe, you’re dead.

From her place in the closet, she could see the flicker of torchlight as the pirates ran back and forth through the house. The vampire pirates. The most dangerous creatures she knew of. They needed human blood to live. Her blood. The blood of her fellow slaves.

But what were they doing here? In the Hoodoo House? She was supposed to be safe here. The Hoodoo Queen was a powerful woman. Surely she could fight them off. All Catheryn had to do was be quiet. Be still. Don’t breathe.

Catheryn clenched and flexed her fingers. There were no weapons in the closet. If someone found her, she would have no way to defend herself. She looked at her hands and willed them to do…something. Anything.

This closet was her safe place. A small nook under the stairs she often visited when she wanted to be alone, to collect her thoughts. To practice her budding magic. She had already been hiding in the closet before the pirates arrived. Though this time, she hadn’t been planning on coming out.

Because this time, she hadn’t hidden away to work on her magic.

She’d hidden because she’d screwed up.


New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Hamilton writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance for Harlequin, Baste Lübbe, and Evershade. A book addict, registered bone marrow donor, and indian food enthusiast, she often takes to fictional worlds to see what perilous situations her characters will find themselves in next.
Represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA, Rebecca has been published internationally, in three languages: English, German, and Hungarian.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads



LEIGH ANDERSON loves all things Gothic and paranormal. Her master's thesis was on vampire imagery in Gothic novels and she met her husband while assuming the role of a vampire online. She currently teaches writing at several universities and has a rather impressive collection of tiny hats. She lives in a small town in the mountains with her husband, human child, and two fur-children. She is currently working on too many writing projects, and yet not enough.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads


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5 Scary Story Podcasts For Horror Lovers

My neighbors are decorating their houses in all the Halloween. One even has sound effects, screams, howls and creepy music, that seem to play all the time. 
I had planned to go all out this year with the Halloween activities. A visit to Sleepy Hollow, a tour of The Jack O'Lantern Blaze, a visit to Washington Irving's house. But, my bank account had other plans. Even getting a new book is out of the questions. I dream of one day raiding the Halloween section and decorating my apartment in all the Halloween. But, not this year.
 You can still enjoy the Month of Horror even if your bank account says otherwise. Podcasts are free and they can thoroughly spice up a boring commute. They'll fill your apartment with some twisted tales. 
Below are the podcasts I'm turning to this October.

I've included some links where you can listen to a few episodes but, on my phone (Andriod) I use Podcast Addict. I know Googe Play has a couple of free podcast players. I'd suggest searching your app store for general podcast players. 
Beyond Your Nightmares
Beyond Your Nightmares is a mix of scary creepypasta stories and those mysteries that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.

iTunes | Spotify | Sticher | Acast | PodBean
Haunted Places
You’ve heard of haunted houses, haunted cemeteries, haunted islands...but do you know how a normal place can become paranormal minefield? Every haunted place on earth has a frightening, real backstory. Greg (Co-Host of Serial Killers and Cults) takes you on an audio tour of a new haunted place, and it’s haunted history, every episode. Spooky legends, weird histories, and tales of the supernatural... Listen at your own risk. Haunted Places is a production of Cutler Media and part of the Parcast Network. New episodes are released every Thursday.
Wedsite  | Spotify | Sticher | Apple Podcast | Google Play
Chilling Tales for Dark Nights: A Horror Anthology and Scary Stories Series Podcast
A multiple story, full-cast horror-themed audio storytelling podcast, spun off from Chilling Tales for Dark Nights and its popular YouTube channel of the same name. The show features a myriad of talented vocal performers and the work of dozens of independent and previously-published contributing authors.
Website | iTunes | Stitcher | Google Play | YouTube
The Unexplained with Howard Hughes

Join award-winning UK based broadcaster and journalist Howard Hughes for a galactic ride through the weird, science, conspiracies, space,the afterlife, other dimensions... If it's unexplained it's here....
Website | Spotify | iTunes | Stitcher | PodBay 
Scary Stories Told in the Dark

A multiple story, horror-themed audio storytelling podcast, spun off from Chilling Tales for Dark Nights and its popular YouTube channel of the same name. The show features master storyteller Otis Jiry, and the work of dozens of independent and previously-published contributing authors.
Website | iTunes | Stitcher | AudioBoom | TuneIn

The SFF Week in Links: Blizzard, Gemini Man, Creepy Sonic Mask

Welcome to the Week in Links, a roundup of the latest articles for fantasy, sci-fi and horror readers and writers.

A lot of chatter about Blizzard. A player made a comment supporting the pro-democracy protesters in Hong King and Blizzard came down on him hard. Then, the internet came down on Blizzard even harder.

Gemini Man came out with Will Smith battling his younger self. Some mixed reviews on it. Doesn't look like the movie did well in the box office. Sad but not surprising. The people behind this movie didn't do a lot of advertising for it. I forgot about it until reviews appeared in my feed. Maybe they were leaning too heavy on Will Smith playing the lead, thinking that would be enough to bring people in. Marvel had 23 movies to advertise Endgame and they still drowned us in ads before and after the movie dropped.

Speaking of... we got more celebrities bad-mouthing Marvel movies. *Rolls Eyes.*

Not sci-fi/fantasy related, sort of, but Japan is in the path of a typhoon. Yesterday, the sky turned an odd purple color. It's not confirmed whether or not the incoming storm caused the sky to turn that color. There are different reasons a sky turns purple, a storm is one of the causes.  #PrayforJapan

#PrayForJapan
Pray for Japan, there a big disaster coming from Japan. pic.twitter.com/yMjZ6U87Sk— micmic (@micyaas2) October 12, 2019

Fantasy/Sci-Fi
The Best New Manga of October 2019A New Book Imagines the Undead Plague of The Walking Dead Hitting ChinaErin A. Craig’s House of Salt and Sorrows Will Be a TV SeriesB&N Bestsellers in Science Fiction & Fantasy: September 2019Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House Picked up by Amazon StudiosPopular Webtoon Series Lore Olympus Being Developed as an Animated SeriesThe Vine Witch by Luanne G. Smith (reviewed by Łukasz Przywóski)Joker To Dominate Box Office Yet Again While Gemini Man FlopsGemini Man Review - Even Two Will Smiths Couldn't Save This OneGEMINI MAN is an Action Movie for Fans of Will Smith and Motion Smoothing
HorrorWatch the Trailer for Portals, a New Sci-Fi Horror Anthology MovieGorgeous, Hypnotic Horror: John Hornor Jacob’s A Lush and Seething Hell7 Chunky Horror Epics to Keep You Up Until All Hallow’sNovella Review: The Monster of Elendhaven by Jennifer GiesbrechtWhat's New This Week To Hulu, Amazon Prime, And Shudder? Movies, TV, And OriginalsDoctor Sleep poster features old and young DannyThis Creepy Sonic Mask Is The Stuff Of Nightmares, So You Should Obviously Buy ItThis real estate company will check that house for ghosts before you buy it
Nerdy
My Hero Academia Anime's 4th Season Listed With 25 Episodes
My Hero Academia Anime's Season 4 Premiere Delayed on NTV in Some Regions Due to TyphoonEverything we know about Pokémon Sword and Shield’s starter PokémonBrie Larson and Marvel Co-Stars Want an All-Female Superhero MovieDC repeats history by asking fans if Robin should live or die on TitansUbisoft Developing Animated Shows Based On Watch Dogs, Blood Dragon, And RaymanA Young Girl Understands the Hulk Better Than AnyoneBlizzard Bans Hearthstone Pro Over Hong Kong Protest SupportBlizzard breaks silence on Hong Kong Hearthstone controversy, reduces punishment on banned playerThis Avengers Meme Is Here to Save Us AllNew York Comic Con 2019 trailer roundup: The Walking Dead, Star Trek, and moreRobert Downey Jr. Talks Iron Man, Scorsese, and Hollywood Egos on Howard SternOh, Good Now Jennifer Aniston Has an Opinion on Marvel Movies. Enough Already
Writing and Book Marketing
Sorry, Stalkers: Instagram Ditches ‘Following’ Activity TabHow To Make The Most Of Your Holiday Book SalesInstagram Stories: How 18 Brands And Influencers Are Using It (And You Can Too!)Publishing Your Book Is Changing on IngramSpark

Photography and Design
Full Hunter’s Moon Will Rise in Night Sky This WeekendTop 10 Fastest & Most Powerful Laptops for Graphic Designers


Want to see your post in the next The Week in Links? Email me at audendjohnson@gmal.com. The next Week in Links will be 11/2/19. The post needs to be published between today, 10/12 and Saturday, 11/2.

Haunted Mining Towns in Chile: Humberstone and La Noria

"The north is Chile’s vast desert region – an epic landscape of sand dunes, sun-baked ochre earth and white-sand cliffs. The land rises from the coast to the arid altiplano, where camelids roam, pink flamingos fly, and pointed volcanoes overlook brilliant blue lagoons. Port-cities line the coast, while indigenous hamlets and oasis villages with adobe churches bring the desert to life." (from Norte Grande and Norte Chico by Divya Chowfin)
Sounds beautiful, doesn't it? I bet the desert region is a wonder to explore. Doesn't mean, there aren't some shadows in its history.  
Humberstone (Oficina La Palma) in Chilie's Atacama Desert was built for mining saltpeter also known as “white gold”. Saltpeter was in high demand during the late 1800s and early 1900s because it was used in explosives and fertilizers.

It seems towns like these, ones built around a specific business, are often haunted. Usually due to poor working conditions that often caused a high death rate. Sometimes, the hauntings are the result of the owner's carelessness that led to a lot of being getting sick and dying in a short period of time.
From the recent accounts of people who visited Hunderstaone, they all commented on just how hot it is. Miners were often required to work for several hours under the harsh sun with no breaks, shade and little water. Articles often referred to the workers as slaves. 
Over 3,000 people flooded this town as the demands for this white gold exploded. In its heyday, the Humberstone was one of the busiest mining towns in the area.
Despite now being a ghost town, Hunderstone has been fairly well preserved.  In 1970, the town was declared a national monument by the Chilean government and a World Heritage Site in 2005. 
I found a lot of information on Humberstone but only one source talked about any paranormal activity. According to the article, people frequently see black shadows. Some claim to spot ghostly children in the old schoolhouse, walking the hallways and disappearing without warning.


Unexplained knocks, bangs and doors slamming shut are reported to be the most common.

But, why is it haunted? Was it simply the terrible working conditions? We may need to look to La Noria for answers. Apparently, the dead in La Noria's cemetery rise at night and walk the town and Humberstone. La Noria has a similar history. It started as a saltpeter mine that went under around the same time as Humberstone. Northern Chile had been the largest supplier of saltpeter in the world which inspired the creations of several mining towns. The workers were treated like slaves and most, including children, died due to poor working conditions and accidents. They were buried in shallow graves in a nearby cemetery.  
If you visit La Noria today, you'll see these shallow graves, dug up with open coffins showing partially dressed skeletons. Most believe grave robbers were to blame. Ghosts or no ghosts, this would be a scary enough sight, especially in the dark. Some say the ghost are angrey about their grave being disturbed. Others say, their rage stems from how they were treated during life. It's been reported that people have traveled to La Noria never to be seen again. People have also claimed to hear disembodied voices and footsteps.


Digging a little further into Humberstone, I found out about the “massacre of the Santa María de Iquique school”. In 1907, thousands of saltpeter miners, men, women and children, went on strike to demand better working conditions. The government ordered them all killed. This didn't happen in Humberstone or La Noria, though.
I came across Pisagua during my research, which has an even dark history. But, that's for another post.

Sources:Haunted Humberstone: Abandoned Ghost Town in ChileHumberstone: A Chilean ghost town's English pastInland from Iquique by Melissa Graham and Andrew Benson
Norte Grande and Norte Chico by Divya ChowfinThe ghost towns of northern ChileChile : 1907 Santa María de Iquique massacreHaunted Humbderston: Abandoned, creepy ghost town in chile
From boom to dust: Eerie pictures show northern Chile's once bustling mining communities reduced to rusting ghost towns

Behind the Design: Dark Fantasy Book Cover Art

Working on a new design while your computer slowly dies is a special kind of...fun. I'd lose internet so often I'd give up on creating for a few hours. The computer moved sooo slow that the certain elements kept sticking and ending up in places I didn't want them to be. But, a computer that can handle Adobe products costs about $1,000. If I have that much in my account, I haven't paid rent yet.
Despite the annoying tech issues, I finished the cover for Book 2 in my paranormal investigator series....sort of finish. I showed the cover WIP to my publisher and they wanted to post it online. We may change it later. This series needs a title, at the very least. 
Here's Book 1:


Book 2: The Screaming Town would be just as type focused. 
Because of The Lost Sciell's cover, I wanted this one, The Screaming Town, to have some red as one of the dominant colors. At book conferences, people always went straight to The Lost Sciell because it's the only one of The Merging World series with a bright red Sciell mark.
But, red is a horror color and The Screaming Town is not a straight horror book.

 Actually, I have a bit of trouble figuring out the genre for this series. It's about magical characters solving paranormal mysteries. It would be straight paranormal except the stories are set in a fictional world. I call this series dark fantasy or paranormal fantasy.

Dark fantasy book covers are usually blue, black and white. Some have red but it's rarely the dominant color.

I search Shutterstock for paranormal and dark fantasy images that spoke to the story and added them to this Collection. 
I found this and fell in love.



In The Screaming Town, Kiran, En and co. are on vacation in a historic town with some impressive, ancient and malfunctioning magical wards. 
But, that's a dynamic image. What would I pair with this? I don't want to use it by itself because some other author may end up with that same cover.

I figured I could use the image on its own but zoom in on a certain part.


Not bad but it doesn't really match book 2. It needs something more.

I also found this image on Shutterstock.


But, it's blue. Too much like Book 1. If Book 2 is the same over as Book 1, then Book 3 and all the other books would need to be blue.

I tried to blend the above image with the red one.


It didn't work out. I couldn't figure out how to blend them without it looking terrible

I was stuck.

Then, I remembered I used this image for book 1.


Maybe I could use a similar image for all the books in the series and just zoom in on different parts. Shutterstock has another throne image that I already owned.



So, I zoomed in and played around with the placement until I found a part I liked.



Okay, we're getting somewhere.

Now, time to work on the type. I already had a lot of fonts installed on my computer but none of them were working out.

"Screaming" was a bit too long of a word to property fit on the cover. I switched the titled to The Wailing Town and started searching for fonts on 1001 Fonts. I love this site for some nice free royalty-free decorative fonts.

Found a couple I liked:


I'm leaning towards the last 2.

Now, let revisit that red image.

I worked with it a bit more. And, here's where I am right now.


I'm still playing with the font but I don't think I'll be changing it much unless my publisher says something.

Just for fun, I found this on Shutterstock.


I added the font to the cover.


Here's another version with the red more pronounced.


It's still horror colors with its red and black but the magic circle and font give it a fantasy feel. The thorns provide a nice frame. 

The SFF Week in Links: NYCC 2019, The Grudge, Fall Anime

Welcome to the Week in Links, a roundup of the latest articles for fantasy, sci-fi and horror readers and writers.

Comic-Con is in town and I'm not there. *Sigh*. I needed to save my money because I'm doing something else this month. Lots of talk about trailers and cosplay from NYCC. We'll probably have way more news next week since Comic-Con isn't over until Sunday.

Pokemon Sword and Shield did a 24-hour live stream that apparently had long stretches of time where nothing happened. Which, inspired people to take to Twitter to share some hilarious memes. I didn't pop in on the live stream but I enjoyed the memes.

Apparently, a new Grunge movie is coming out and I'm all for that!


Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Gemini Man Review
Gemini Man is a reason to go to an actual movie theater
Using Magic as a Way to Democratize Force? Talking Magic x Mayhem at NYCC 2019Dark Horse and Netflix Announce New STRANGER THINGS ComicTHE WALKING DEAD Spin-Off Releases New Teaser Photos"Who Is Rey?" Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Writer On Answering This Question And MoreNetflix’s adaptation of YA fantasy series Shadow and Bone finds its leadsThe Mary Sue Book Club October Edition: Season of the WitchHUNGER GAMES Prequel Novel Gets a Title and Cover
HorrorAre You Afraid of the Dark Returns with a Creepy New Clip!
Netflix’s Eli puts a boy in a creepy mansion with a creepy doctor and creepy ghostsAmazon Prime’s Halloween Collection Fills All Our Spooky Needs
New Doctor Sleep Featurette Teases a Post-Shining WorldEwan McGregor Explains Why Danny Is Still Traumatized in ‘Doctor Sleep’
Bring a Little Horror Into Your Bathtime With These IT Pennywise Bath Bombs
NYCC: The First Clip Of The Grudge
Sam Raimi and Director Nicolas Pesce Tease a New, R-Rated Version of The Grudge!
Nerdy
New York Comic Con 2019 Cosplay: Marvel, Game of Thrones and Nintendo-Inspired OutfitsTake A Look At The New Birds Of Prey Costumes At NYCC
The best memes from the 24-hour Pokémon Sword and Shield livestreamNew Pokémon revealed in 24-hour Sword and Shield stream appears to be a Galarian Ponyta
Wendy's Made a Tabletop RPG Where You Kill Ronald McDonaldRyan Reynolds and Taika Waititi Refuse to Admit They Took Part of Green Lantern [Video]This fall anime season is full of superheroes, fantasy, and furriesYour Fall 2019 Anime Guide [Updated]Crunchyroll adds dub premieres and simulcasts to fall lineup
Birds of Prey trailer is all about Harley QuinnBirds Of Prey: Everything We Know About Harley Quinn's Return To the DC UniverseMichael B. Jordan and Coach Drop ‘Naruto’-Inspired Clothing Line
Writing and Book Marketing
Instagram’s Restrict feature now lets you shadow ban your bulliesSure, Write for Yourself—But Know Your Reader When It Comes Time to Sell5 Ways To Use Voice Search To Sell More Books8 Elements that Make Your Next Piece of Content Even Better than Your LastThe Science Behind the Best Instagram Bios5 Easy Ways to Open Your Blog Post with a Bang
Photography and Design
How to Make Your Photos Awesome in Lightroom or Photoshop Camera RAW12 Steps to Make Awesome Video Content

Want to see your post in the next The Week in Links? Email me at audendjohnson@gmal.com. The post needs to be published between today, 10/05 and next Saturday, 10/12.

Q&A with Lauren Mansy Author of The Memory Thief, a YA Fantasy

The Memory Thief
Lauren Mansy
Published by: Blink
Publication date: October 1st 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

In the city of Craewick, memories reign. The power-obsessed ruler of the city, Madame, has cultivated a society in which memories are currency, citizens are divided by ability, and Gifted individuals can take memories from others through touch as they please.

Seventeen-year-old Etta Lark is desperate to live outside of the corrupt culture, but grapples with the guilt of an accident that has left her mother bedridden in the city’s asylum. When Madame threatens to put her mother up for auction, a Craewick practice in which a “criminal’s” memories are sold to the highest bidder before being killed, Etta will do whatever it takes to save her. Even if it means rejoining the Shadows, the rebel group she swore off in the wake of the accident years earlier.

To prove her allegiance to the Shadows and rescue her mother, Etta must steal a memorized map of the Maze, a formidable prison created by the bloodthirsty ruler of a neighboring Realm. So she sets out on a journey in which she faces startling attacks, unexpected romance, and, above all, her own past in order to set things right in her world.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo—Q&A with Lauren Mansy:
What was it like to write your first book and have it published?

Incredible! It’s been such a wonderful journey filled with many sweet moments. I began writing over seven years ago, and it’s definitely surreal that The Memory Thief is now on shelves! As of late, there have been quite a few teary moments—and I’m totally not a crier! I’m truly overwhelmed by every kind word, the support, and the willingness to walk alongside me as The Memory Thief has gone from something imagined to a real book. I couldn’t be more excited to share this story with readers! 
What was your inspiration behind TMT?

When I was a teenager, my mom was diagnosed with a heart condition, which led to an unexpected heart surgery. On the way to the operating room, her heart stopped six times, and the doctors warned my family that it was unlikely she’d survive. And if she did, she may not remember us due to the trauma she’d experienced throughout the entire ordeal.

I was sitting at her bedside when she first began to stir after her surgery, and I slipped my hand into hers and told her that it was me. Then she began to squeeze my hand three times, our signal for I love you! That’s my most favorite memory because I’d never felt such fear suddenly overcome by the most incredible joy. That collision of emotions was the moment which first sparked the idea for The Memory Thief.

Ever since then, I always struck by how memories make up so much of our identity and influence our relationships with others. It terrified me that my mom wouldn’t remember me, but I’m so thankful to say that she made a full-recovery. Though it was long and difficult process, she never gave up hope that things would one day get better. Her unwavering courage inspired me to want to share this story. 
What kind of impact did writing TMT have on you personally?

Writing TMT has had a huge impact on me. I first began writing after completing treatments for Hodgkin’s Disease, a form of lymphatic cancer. It was a very difficult time in my life, and writing fiction helped me express myself in ways that I’d never done before. It helped me process through some of my most difficult memories.

When I first began drafting The Memory Thief, I realized there were still some emotions about being faced with the possibility of losing my mom that I’d yet to express out loud. Writing this book proved to be a source of healing, and a wonderful platform for exploring truth in my own life through a backdrop of fiction.

This story is very dear to my heart, and reflecting back on the process of writing this book is what made the moment of holding it in my hands so amazing. 
What is your favorite part about TMT?

I think my favorite part is the relationship that Etta has with her mother.

Gwendolyn was one of my favorite characters to write because she’s full of opposites. Because of her coma, she hasn’t spoken a word in four years yet that entire time, she’s been teaching Etta how important it is never to give up, even when all the odds are stacked against you.

On her journey to save her mother, Etta discovers that Gwendolyn’s story is intertwined with Etta’s in ways that she never imagined. Writing this aspect of the plot was so much fun, and definitely one of my favorite parts of the drafting process, as well! 
What do you hope readers take away from TMT?

The main thing I hope readers take away is that it isn’t the hardships of the past which define us but the strength we find in overcoming them. Etta has been through a lot of difficult things, and she struggles with trusting others because she has a hard time trusting herself. At the beginning of the story, Etta has spent four years hiding from both the people and events which haunt her, but to save her mother, she’ll have to come face-to-face with the past. I hope her journey will inspire readers to never lose hope, even in the midst of impossible odds. 
How are you reflected in TMT (or, how much of you is reflected in the book)?

Because this story is based on my own journey with my mother, many of Etta’s worries, doubts, and fears are things I also experienced when faced with the possibility of losing my mom. The questions that Etta asks about how to deal with a situation like this are questions that I often pondered myself.

So when I first began writing TMT, I thought, “What if I wasn’t the only one who faced this fear? What if there was an entire society that feared their loved ones no longer remembering them?” It was these kinds of thoughts which ultimately let me to want to explore a world where memories reign over everything. Then writing Etta’s emotional journey also helped me process through a lot of my own memories, as well.

That’s one reason that I love not only writing but reading fantasy novels. Even though these characters live in worlds that are vastly different than our own, what they love, hate, and fear can often be so relatable. That often sticks with me long after I read the last page, and I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share this journey with readers. 
What is your favorite thing to do to promote your book?

My favorite thing has been getting to know readers. I had the privilege of attending BEA and ALA this past summer, and I loved meeting librarians, educators, fellow writers, bloggers, and industry professionals. Writing can often be a solitary venture, but the publishing process has been filled with creating some wonderful relationships. I couldn’t be more grateful for this community!
Why should readers be sure to place TMT on their TBR list?

The Memory Thief is a book full of secrets, lies, and betrayal. It’s set in a world where memories are currency, people are struggling to hold onto their true identity, and nothing is quite what it seems. And Etta is a very flawed character. She has a lot of regret and has made many mistakes, yet she never stops fighting to save her loved ones. If any these things appeal to you, I hope you’ll consider adding TMT to your TBR! 
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned while being a writer?

I think the biggest lesson being a writer has taught me is the importance of the “story behind the story”. Though the publication journey is filled with exciting moments (like seeing the cover for the first time and holding the final copy!), the journey of getting here has changed me for forever. There have been highs and lows, moments of uncertainty coupled with unexpected encouragement, and wonderful support from family, friends, and even strangers! Writing fiction gave me a voice when I was still struggling to find mine, and I’ll be forever grateful that even as the last page of The Memory Thief ends, my own life story is still being written 
Additional thoughts?

If you’re interested in learning more about The Memory Thief, I have more information of my website, and I also LOVE connecting with readers!

Website: www.laurenmansy.com
Instagram: lauren_mansy
Twitter: laurenmansy



Lauren lives in the Chicago area, where she's spent years working with youth, from young children to high schoolers. When she's not writing, Lauren is usually with her family or exploring the city to find the best deep dish pizza. The Memory Thief, which was inspired by Lauren's own journey with her mother, is her first novel. You can visit her online at www.laurenmansy.com.

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What's On Your Halloween Reading/Listening List?

October, pretty fall colors and Halloween. Well... here in Brooklyn, the leaves are turning an ugly, sick-looking green and brown before falling to the ground. We don't have those pretty yellows and reds. And the weather can't decided if it wants to be summer or fall. I'm afraid we may go from hot to freezing again this year. So, not much fall but...Halloween!

I usually break out Tales from the Crypt or Halloween Horrors. This year, I discovered some new books. New to me anyway. One of the perks of doing The Week in Links.



Goodreads
I finished this just before October started but it still got me in the Halloween mood. It's a nice novella with some Lovecraft Innsmouth vibes. Good for a long train ride. I totally plan on reading book 2.

John Persons is a private investigator with a distasteful job from an unlikely client. He’s been hired by a ten-year-old to kill the kid’s stepdad, McKinsey. The man in question is abusive, abrasive, and abominable.

He’s also a monster, which makes Persons the perfect thing to hunt him. Over the course of his ancient, arcane existence, he’s hunted gods and demons, and broken them in his teeth.

As Persons investigates the horrible McKinsey, he realizes that he carries something far darker than the expected social evils. He’s infected with an alien presence, and he’s spreading that monstrosity far and wide. Luckily Persons is no stranger to the occult, being an ancient and magical intelligence himself. The question is whether the private dick can take down the abusive stepdad without releasing the holds on his own horrifying potential.


Goodreads
I'm currently listening to The Monster of Elendhaven. I'm enjoying it so far. The writing had me giggling on the train. It's not a comedy but the narrator is witty. 
The city of Elendhaven sulks on the edge of the ocean. Wracked by plague, abandoned by the South, stripped of industry and left to die. But not everything dies so easily. A thing without a name stalks the city, a thing shaped like a man, with a dark heart and long pale fingers yearning to wrap around throats. A monster who cannot die. His frail master sends him out on errands, twisting him with magic, crafting a plan too cruel to name, while the monster’s heart grows fonder and colder and more cunning.

These monsters of Elendhaven will have their revenge on everyone who wronged the city, even if they have to burn the world to do it.


Goodreads
Just look at the cover. It screams Halloween. It came in my October book subscription box from Owlcrate. 
Seventeen-year-old Aderyn ("Ryn") only cares about two things: her family, and her family's graveyard. And right now, both are in dire straits. Since the death of their parents, Ryn and her siblings have been scraping together a meager existence as gravediggers in the remote village of Colbren, which sits at the foot of a harsh and deadly mountain range that was once home to the fae. The problem with being a gravedigger in Colbren, though, is that the dead don't always stay dead.

The risen corpses are known as "bone houses," and legend says that they're the result of a decades-old curse. When Ellis, an apprentice mapmaker with a mysterious past, arrives in town, the bone houses attack with new ferocity. What is it that draws them near? And more importantly, how can they be stopped for good?

Together, Ellis and Ryn embark on a journey that will take them deep into the heart of the mountains, where they will have to face both the curse and the long-hidden truths about themselves.



Goodreads
I'll be listening to this as well.
Something stirs in the town of Newsom's Landing...
Penny hates the outdoors, but when her boyfriend, Jared, plans a romantic weekend getaway in the woods, she decides to tag along.

The pair drive to a remote Kentucky campground with a strange and sordid history. Within the confines of the Swan Creek State Park are the ruins of a town abandoned under terrifying circumstances in the 19th century. The town of Newsom's Landing had been the site of the last-known witch trial in US history, and the ghost of its defendant, the infamous Ellie Pomeroy, is said to still linger.

Arriving on the anniversary of Pomeroy's murder, the pair find they have the entire park to themselves.

Or, nearly.

Something else is stalking the woods—watching in the night, wandering through the ruins. It brings a plague of hallucinatory terror wherever it goes, and before long, Penny and Jared can't parse reality from nightmare.

Lost in the woods, the pair are faced with a choice: Find a way to end the century-long curse, or be consumed by it—body and soul.

Goodreads
Another book I'll be listening to. I had some audible credits piled up. Sounds like it's more fantasy than horror but it has necromancers and that cover gets me excited for Halloween. 
Tamsyn Muir's Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as necromantic skeletons. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead. 
Do you have a Halloween reading list?