January 2023 Group Read with Guest Author, Jonathan Janz

[Rachel]

just started reading (about 30% in) and already really enjoying it so far! I love the writing and the suitably creepy vibes established early on - excited (scared?) to see what happens!

[Bradford]

Absolutely loved Dismembered!

[Elke]

Started yesterday with the first four chapters.

The cover really is awesome, which reawakens my idea to print cool covers and collect in a binder - it's a shame how many great covers are not on display when reading books in e-format, which I mostly do.

The beginning reminded me of Carmilla, did that have some influence on the story? Or what inspired you to write this story? Was it some gothic reads or a special situation?

The animal scene seems like a strong preview of things to come, so I'm very excited to continue today.

[Heather]

Hi all!
I've been a lurker here since Oct (I think) but finally ready to jump in with you all for this months reading! Are there any specific rules, reading paces, etc. that I should adhere to? Thanks in advance! -HB

[Kandice]

I am a bit of an idiot. I ordered a signed copy from a store Janz (thank you!) linked on twitter, then forgot and ordered a copy from Amazon because the library didn't have it. My signed copy got here yesterday, and while I LOVE the cover, I wish they had not put a sticker on the front.

The upside is that I get to start this morning! I'm so looking forward to it.

[Kandice]

Speaking of awesome covers, This is one of my favorites: . It's simple, but so moody.

[Char]

Great questions, Michael! I want to know as well.

[Jonathan]

AMP wrote: "What a wonderful story! I appreciate your fondness of Edgar Allan Poe. In a post-Romantic and mega super post-modern world, do you think you will ever write outside the gothic horror? I had a good ..."

Thank you so much, AMP! I really appreciate that. I absolutely will continue to write all sorts of horror, though I plan on returning to styles similar to this in the future. Here are a few things on the way:

CHILDREN OF THE DARK 2: THE NIGHT FLYERS (coming of age)

MARLA (creepy mystery)

HALLOWEEN GODS (coming of age)

AMITY (Jaws homage/suspense)

VEIL (sci-fi/horror)

THE STARS HAVE LEFT THE SKIES (winter horror--I just started to write this one)

[Jonathan]

Rachel wrote: "just started reading (about 30% in) and already really enjoying it so far! I love the writing and the suitably creepy vibes established early on - excited (scared?) to see what happens!"

That's awesome. Thank you, Rachel!

[Jonathan]

Alan wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Hello, Alan! Great to hear from you. Will you be at AuthorCon II?"

I plan to be. Have hotel reservations already."

Fantastic! I will see you there!

[Jonathan]

Michael wrote: "My copy arrives Wednesday!"

Fantastic!

[Jonathan]

destiny ♡ wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "destiny ♡ wrote: "Yaaaay! This is on my 2023 TBR and I'm so excited to read it with you all!"

Hello, Destiny!"

Hi, friend! So excited to read this new book of yours. Happy New Ye..."

You rock, my friend!

[Jonathan]

Evie wrote: "I read this yesterday in one sitting and it's fantastic! I was hooked within the first chapter and couldn't put it down. I read the Kindle unlimited version but will definitely be ordering a printe..."

This makes me so happy, Evie--THANK YOU! You captured in your message here exactly what I was going for, so this made me beyond happy. Thank you again!!!

[Cal]

I'm wishing I had looked closer to see he's selling signed copies. I've only read one chapter (still) and I absolutely love his writing style. I am going to get more of his work after this.

[Alan]

Heather wrote: "Hi all!
I've been a lurker here since Oct (I think) but finally ready to jump in with you all for this months reading! Are there any specific rules, reading paces, etc. that I should adhere to? Th..."

You're free to read at your own pace and comment as you go along, when you're done, whenever you feel like it. The only thing we ask is if you want to mention possible plot spoilers please use spoiler tags around those comments.

[Ginger]

I just finished this one last night. I loved this one Jonathan!

Don't click on the spoiler until you are done...
The amount of (view spoiler)[gore and crazy in this was awesome.
I couldn't put the book down when Jimmy gets killed at the table and we find out that Sarah was bad all along. And then we find out what Count Richard Dunning is all about and it's batshit crazy from that point on.
This was a bloody good time! haha (hide spoiler)]

I love gothic horror and I had a fantastic time reading this!

[Kandice]

I started this morning and had to stop about 20 pages from the end for work. I love it!

This style of writing, and I promise I mean this as a compliment, should be on that rough, vanilla colored paper with either yellow or red edged pages. I want this book to smell old and musty! The stark white, almost glossy pages with perfect black ink are almost jarring when I focus out from the narrative for a sec and notice it.

[Char]

I am about 20 pages from the end as well. I was reading on my lunch hour and people kept insisting on coming into the lunchroom to ask me questions. What a note I ended on though! As soon as I get home, my daily chores will wait until I find out what happened!

I will say that I'm enjoying the hell out of this. The twists and turns keep messing with my head!

[Badseedgirl]

I am getting ready to start this read. I absolutely adored Witching Hour Theatre and hope to be just as creeped out by this one!

[Sally]

Just got my copy of The Dismembered today! Will be diving into this one after I’ve finished my current read :)

[Jonathan]

I'm having a blast so far. Please forgive me if I miss someone or miss a question. Go ahead and post it again if miss it!

[Jonathan]

Steve wrote: "Downloaded and ready to roll, also, my first read along. loving the synopsis for this one so here we go...

I've set a personal goal to read much more, so this should be a perfect avenue to spur th..."

That's awesome, Steve. Thank you!

[Jonathan]

Rachel wrote: "just started reading (about 30% in) and already really enjoying it so far! I love the writing and the suitably creepy vibes established early on - excited (scared?) to see what happens!"

That's so good to hear, Rachel!

[Jonathan]

Bradford wrote: "Absolutely loved Dismembered!"

Thank you so much, Bradford!

[Jonathan]

Elke wrote: "Started yesterday with the first four chapters.

The cover really is awesome, which reawakens my idea to print cool covers and collect in a binder - it's a shame how many great covers are not on di..."

I love Carmilla, so that undoubtedly had some influence on this one. That story and one called "Schalken the Painter" (I think) were stories of which I was especially fond.

It's interesting--that animal scene you alluded to has caused sort of a stir. I included it as it is because it's a microcosm of what happens later, it's important characterization, and even though it's terrible and gruesome and traumatic, I feel like it's sort of akin to "playing fair" with the audience. Signaling that "Hey, this is gonna go to some super dark places. Reader beware." If that makes any sense.

[Michael]

Jonathan wrote: "I'm having a blast so far. Please forgive me if I miss someone or miss a question. Go ahead and post it again if miss it!"
I can see why you might miss a question - - there's been so many comments so far, and that's a great thing.
I received my physical copy today.
And I'll start reading it soon, maybe if I can find a good breaking point in my current reading.
Or maybe after Jonathan answers my question from Message #100 (hint, hint).

[Jonathan]

Michael wrote: "Jonathan wrote: ""

Thanks for sharing all those cover inspirations with us. I'm assuming you may also have read all those novels. Were they (or one of them) your in..."

Thank you for reminding me of this question! I didn't take inspiration from any of those specific novels or covers, but books with some of those vibes definitely inspired me. Here were just a few:

Sardonicus by Ray Russell
Dracula
The short stories of M.R. James
Frankenstein
The Feasting Dead by John Metcalfe
J.S. LeFanu
The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen

There were quite a few others, but these are the ones I remember off the top of my head.

[Kandice]

I too love Camilla and this very definitely reminded me of that. And Poe/Shelley, which was intentional, I think. I finished yesterday the minute I clocked out of work. I am so glad I ordered the signed copy so this can go on my special shelf.

Jonathan, this is not a criticism, but what led you to include the few instances of "fuck?" It's not a word you usually see in a gothic novel set in this time frame. I liked the way it spoke to the modern reader reminding us that even though the story is set long ago, we are reading it now.

There is a monologue scene in the series Deadwood that William Sanderson ended up improvising a bit. He used the word "motherfucker" that was not part of the script. David Milch agonized over whether or not to keep it since that particular swear had not been invented (is that the write word?) at the time the series is set. He eventually left it in because the mood invoked by the performance was more important than that piece of accuracy.

Your few instances of "fuck" felt like that to me! I loved this book.

One of my favorite things about reading is the intentionality of writers when using certain words or phrases. I know writers write at very different paces, but when I come across something so perfectly phrased I always imagine the writer sweaty, hair crazy, tearing draft after draft out of the typewriter ( I know they don't use them anymore, but visually it works!) and finally saying "YES!"

Here's the scene if anyone is interested: https://www.google.com/search?q=deadw...

[Cal]

I’m so early into the book, but the line “for my part, I wrote next when my mind is untroubled, when I feel a solid emotional bedrock underfoot.”

That hit me like a ton of bricks. Feeling that extra lately. Outstanding wordsmithing.

[Jonathan]

Kandice wrote: "Speaking of awesome covers, This is one of my favorites: . It's simple, but so moody."

Thank you so much, Kandice. I love that cover too! And I hope to have good news about that series soon.

[Jonathan]

Kandice wrote: "I too love Camilla and this very definitely reminded me of that. And Poe/Shelley, which was intentional, I think. I finished yesterday the minute I clocked out of work. I am so glad I ordered the s..."

Hah! You encapsulated my thoughts and my thinking wonderfully here. I'll watch that scene soon (though I'm in school at the moment and can't yet).

Like you alluded to, I felt that a few strategic f-words would be just the right touch of modernism and surprise for this story. In the end I think they're additive, though I did think long and hard about the topic (just like Milch evidently agonized over the words in Deadwood!). I really do that with all my words, as I'm an obsessive editor and perfectionist, but I probably agonized extra long about those. :-)

[Jonathan]

Badseedgirl wrote: "I am getting ready to start this read. I absolutely adored Witching Hour Theatre and hope to be just as creeped out by this one!"

Hey, thank you! I really appreciate that!

[Jonathan]

Calvin wrote: "I’m so early into the book, but the line “for my part, I wrote next when my mind is untroubled, when I feel a solid emotional bedrock underfoot.”

That hit me like a ton of bricks. Feeling that ext..."

Thanks, Calvin! That line is absolutely true of me as a writer too. I don't like instability or whatever unpleasant grist some might feel enhances the creative process. That solid bedrock helps me so much.

[Char]

I finished this last night and I absolutely loved it!

I could so easily picture the castle, probably due to those old Hammer films. I was able to take your characters and plop them down into the castle in my mind, and let the havoc play out.

Jonathan, you slipped into the gothic voice so easily. Do you expect to write more of these types of books in the future?

[Jonathan]

Char wrote: "I finished this last night and I absolutely loved it!

I could so easily picture the castle, probably due to those old Hammer films. I was able to take your characters and plop them down into the c..."

Wow, that's so awesome to hear. Thank you, Char!

Interestingly enough, I have been feeling a desire to do this sort of thing again. I even have a title (which I'll share with you in a DM). It is so much fun to write in this voice. I love stories from the 1800s and early-1900s, so channeling those vibes and narrative voices is an absolute blast for me.

Thanks again!

[Kandice]

Jonathan wrote: "Interestingly enough, I have been feeling a desire to do this sort of thing again. I even have a title. It is so much fun to write in this voice. I love stories from the 1800s and early-1900s, so channeling those vibes and narrative voices is an absolute blast for me...."

Oooh! I am really going to look forward to that!

I collect old paperbacks and display them on an old drug store spinner. The book, and probably the one you refer to above would look so good next to my Perry Masons, Agatha Christie's and Dark Shadow books! I hope they come out in paperback size with the same awesome cover(s)!

[Jonathan]

Kandice wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Interestingly enough, I have been feeling a desire to do this sort of thing again. I even have a title. It is so much fun to write in this voice. I love stories from the 1800s and ..."

I saw your comment about the type of paper that would be ideally suited for this, and I couldn't agree more. If there's a limited edition of this book, I think that would be the perfect addition to complete the Gothic feel of the story and cover.

[Ginger]

Jonathan wrote: "It's interesting--that animal scene you alluded to has caused sort of a stir. I included it as it is because it's a microcosm of what happens later, it's important characterization, and even though it's terrible and gruesome and traumatic, I feel like it's sort of akin to "playing fair" with the audience. Signaling that "Hey, this is gonna go to some super dark places. Reader beware." If that makes any sense.."

Yes, totally made sense and (view spoiler)[it was my first thought in the book that things were not as they're suppose to be. I hated it by the way but understood why this happened to show the motivations and nastiness of this character.

It was like my spidey sense was saying, "Whoa. Who is this guy and I thought he was suppose to be good because he's Sarah's dude?!" (hide spoiler)]

[Char]

Ginger wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "It's interesting--that animal scene you alluded to has caused sort of a stir. I included it as it is because it's a microcosm of what happens later, it's important characterization..."

I had the same exact thought as you wrote in your spoiler!

[Char]

Jonathan wrote: "Interestingly enough, I have been feeling a desire to do this sort of thing again. I even have a title (which I'll share with you in a DM). It is so much fun to write in this voice. I love stories from the 1800s and early-1900s, so channeling those vibes and narrative voices is an absolute blast for me. "

Take my money now!

[Jonathan]

Ginger wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "It's interesting--that animal scene you alluded to has caused sort of a stir. I included it as it is because it's a microcosm of what happens later, it's important characterization..."

Hah! YES! That's exactly right. Honestly, I totally get why some readers are uncomfortable with that scene (and why some tapped out at that point). Heck, *I'm* uncomfortable with it. If there are animals involved, I try to steer clear of anything awful or just allude to it after the fact (I do that in a book called Marla). But here, even though it pained me (because I'm a HUGE fan of cats), I felt like it needed to stay in.

I loved the way you put that spoiler part, by the way. I don't think I even mentioned it, but yes, that was a primary reason why I did keep the scene so terrible (because it reflects on another character who's an ally of the negative character in the cat scene).

[Michael]

Jonathan wrote: "Michael wrote: "Jonathan wrote: ""

Thanks for sharing all those cover inspirations with us. I'm assuming you may also have read all those novels. Were they (or one ..."
That's an even better list! Thanks for replying. I appreciate that.

[Cal]

44% through, loving this quick read!

[Robin]

Starting this today - I'm a huge fan of all things Gothic so I'm super excited to be reading this! And the cover looks amazing :)

(Also it's my new year's resolution to participate more in read alongs so here we go! :D)

[Jonathan]

Calvin wrote: "44% through, loving this quick read!"

That’s awesome to hear. Thank you, Calvin!

[Kenneth]

Jonathan, can you give us a little background on how this story came about, what we’re the inspirations, etc?

[Cal]

Jonathan wrote: "Calvin wrote: "44% through, loving this quick read!"

That’s awesome to hear. Thank you, Calvin!"

My pleasure dude! I just added one of your other books (a horror western?) to my Want to Read list!

[Monica]

About the animal scene, I'm someone that would never give up a book just because of that. I read mostly horror and of course, there will be violence and such, and an evil character (unfortunately?) would do all sorts of bad things. So I think those kinds of scenes are important for the characterization of said character like Jonathan said (of course there are all sorts), in my opinion. I think it's important to understand who we are reading about; it's more realistic isn't it?

Thanks for all the insights Jonathan. More more! I already read the book, and as you know I really liked it. It is also on my list of best books I read in 2022.

[Jonathan]

Kenneth wrote: "Jonathan, can you give us a little background on how this story came about, what we’re the inspirations, etc?"

Absolutely! Like so many of my stories, the inspirations for this one are varied. I love to read earlier horror stories, and I often reread M.R. James's short stories, DRACULA, and other classics. There's something delicious about those tales. A powerful sense of isolation. And the language, when done well, has a richness that really resonates with me. The Gothic trappings transport me too. SARDONICUS is a title I mentioned above; when I read that one, I got pleasant shivers and felt like I was living in that world. So I have an affinity for all those things, and I think that made me ultra-receptive to thinking about a story set in the past.

Another inspiration is the show DOWNTON ABBEY. I'm obviously against economic prejudice (or any other prejudice), so I'm not defending the negative aspects of the DT world, but the home itself, the notion of traveling by more primitive means, and especially the types of repression under which people lived, all provided fodder for my imagination. Altarbrook is meant to be a bit like Downton Abbey, and Hubert Coyle carries a little bit of Lord Grantham (Hugh Bonneville's character in DT) in him.

I think Arthur Pearce probably contains a bit of Jonathan Harker and maybe even some of Lucy's suitors in DRACULA. And I'm also pretty sure that some of the Hammer Horror stuff I saw as a little kid (Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing) had an effect on me too.

The thing is, though...none of these things were on my mind as I wrote the story. They were all just in my subconscious as I wrote, and they seasoned the story naturally.

[Char]

Love this:

"The thing is, though...none of these things were on my mind as I wrote the story. They were all just in my subconscious as I wrote, and they seasoned the story naturally."