So, it’s been more than a week since my last post. And I have some things I wanted to talk to you about. Problem is, none of them are enough for a blog post on their own, so I’m doing an updates post. Because let’s face it, those have worked before! Anyway, here’s what I’ve been up to lately:
I’m Writing about a 3D Printer from Hell
You know how after the Great Editing, all I wanted to do was work on some new stories and not edit for a while? Well, I’ve been doing just that, and have so far written one short story, one novelette, and two novellas. Only the short story has been edited and is being shopped around, while the rest are waiting on their second drafts.
The current project is what I hope will be a novella about a 3D printer from Hell. Most likely, it’s going to end up a novel and I’ll be like, “Rami, what did you do?” But if it ends up being that long, so be it. I’m going to care more about the quality of the words instead of the quantity of the word count (though that is important).
Anywho, right now this project, which doesn’t have a title yet, is still early in the first draft. I’m trying to work on it every opportunity I get, and I hope to get further along before too much time passes. After that, I plan on working on a few more (hopefully much shorter) tales. And after that? Well, I think I’ll go through editing all these stories and then finding some of them homes.
Ongoing projects
So, before you ask: yes, I am still planning on getting back to my mummy novel Crawler. It’s just that I wanted to work on a bunch of other stuff and not commit to another huge project for a while. Granted, that might have blown up in my face, with the 3D printer story possibly going the same route as The Pure World Comes (God, I was so naive to think that would be a novelette). But I still plan to get back to it before the end of the year and finish the first draft.
In the meantime, I’m also putting together two new collections. Yes, you read that right: two new collections. All I can say about them is that one will be made up entirely of novellas, and the other will be made up entirely of novelettes. How many in each, and which stories will be in it, I’ll let you know when the projects are a lot further along. But let me be clear: I am working on these, and will update you when it’s appropriate to do so.
Finally, I’ve also started research on a new essay. Won’t say what it is yet, but it’s going to be horror focused, and it’s also going to revolve around one of my favorite things. Like everything else, I’ll keep you updated on any developments.
Important anniversaries are coming up!
So, I realized yesterday that three of my books have anniversaries coming up and these are going to be important ones. First, The Pure World Comes will be celebrating its second anniversary since being released in paperback and ebook on May 10, 2024. Feels like it’s been out a lot longer, but yeah, I counted to be sure. Two years.
Then, Snake will celebrate ten years since release on June 10, 2024. Yeah, the big one-oh. Kind of snuck up on me, didn’t it?
And finally, on June 20, 2024, Rose will celebrate five year since it was first released. I know, I know. Hard to believe, right? It amazes me too that that book came out just before the pandemic!
With all these anniversaries, I’ll be doing something to celebrate each, so be sure to stick around. And if you haven’t read those books…well, if you need some reading material right now, go check those three out. They’re scary and awesome, if I do say so myself. You can check them out using my Book Links and Excerpts page, which is linked to the button below.
Well, I’ve been busy with HWA Ohio stuff. As a chapter, we’re really growing and getting noticed in all the right ways, so as Chapter Coordinator, I’ve been busy with that and making sure we all get more exposure and readers. With any luck, some of us may even be able to take our careers to brand new heights.
Also got some events I’ll be going to soon, which I am looking forward to (see my last post about those). Hope you’re looking forward to and maybe stopping by some of those as well.
I’ve been putting up a lot of stuff on my YouTube channel, including some writing advice videos I’m proud of. Definitely check those out and consider subscribing to my channel.
And…that’s about it. I mean, I could talk about work stuff, or the fact that it’s Passover, but I don’t feel like it. Also, it’s getting late, and I have to go into the office tomorrow, so might as well stop here.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares. I hope whatever you’re doing, it’s working out well for you.
So, I have a few new events I’ll be attending this year, as well as one I had to cancel. Thus, an update post. If you’re able to come out and see me, please do so. I would love to see you, and even sign your books or give you a hug if you want.
The first event on the horizon is actually this coming Saturday! HWA Ohio will be an official partner at the Ohioana Book Festival this Saturday, April 20th, 2024 at 10:30 AM – 5 PM at the Downtown Library in Columbus, Ohio. In addition to having several of our members there as featured authors, HWA Ohio will have a booth where we’ll be telling people about our chapter and what we provide for writers and readers. I’ll be volunteering at the HWA Ohio booth for most of the day, so please stop by if you can. Click here for details on the festival.
After that, guess what? I’m going to jail! ParaPsyCon will be occurring on May 17-19, 2024 at the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. I’ll be selling books and doing Tarot readers both days, so please stop by and check it out if you’re in the area. Entry fee is the same price as a self-guided tour of a prison (ten bucks, if I remember correctly), and it’s an amazing place, so why not stop by, see the prison and check out one of the biggest paranormal conventions in the Midwest? Further details can be found on the ParaPsyCon website.
June I’ll have the month off, but then July gets busy. First, HWA Ohio will be having a booth again at the Columbus Book Festival.The festival will be taking place on July 13-14, 2024 at the Downtown Library and at Topiary Park in downtown Columbus, Ohio (don’t worry, one’s right in front of the other, so it’s not a long walk). We’ll be having a larger booth this year and likely more authors and books, so definitely come out and check it out. Further details can be found on the festival’s website.
And after that, I’ll have another big festival on the way! Motor City Nightmares will be occurring at the Novi Sheraton in Novi, Michigan on July 26-28. This is a huge horror convention, and has had horror luminaries like Bruce Campbell (Ash in the Evil Dead movies) and Kane Hodder (played Jason Voorhees four times) as special guests! And the lineup for this year is also looking pretty awesome, so I’m very excited to join this convention. Further details can be found on their website and Facebook page.
Unfortunately, I will not be attending the Indie Author Book Expo in Terre Haute, Indiana in August. Something came up, and I won’t be able to travel out that week. Sucks, but sometimes that’s just life. Apologies for any fans of mine in Indiana who were looking forward to seeing me.
And finally, HWA Ohio will be hosting a Super Saturday event on October 26, 2024 at the Downtown Library in Columbus, Ohio. Super Saturdays are events the library holds once a month to bring in more adult audiences for the library’s events. What exactly we’ll be doing is still not finalized, but we have a date and the library is excited to collaborate with us. More details will be available as we get closer.
And that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll do another update post when I have some more news to share. In the meantime, if you would like to attend any of these events, please do! And if you can’t stop by, please consider supporting me by purchasing, reading and reviewing my books. I’ll leave a link below for my Books page so you can check them out, including some free stories.
I especially hope you’ll check out Hannah and Other Stories, my new collection from BSC Publishing Group. Hannah has been out for six and a half months now, and I think there’s a good chance it’ll finally get a paperback edition, but it’ll need your help to accomplish that. So, if you like scary short stories–especially ones with ghosts, serial killers, or carnivorous horses–be sure to check this book out using the links below.
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night and pleasant nightmares!
The photo I took at the very beginning of the eclipse.
When I saw the 2017 solar eclipse, it wasn’t that great an experience. It happened while I was at work, and we were several hundred miles from the zone of totality. I just remember going outside of the building, watching the partial eclipse through a coworker’s eclipse glasses (and it was partial, like barely halfway covered from our perspective), and going back inside not thinking it was a big deal.
And then I learned that the next one would be wandering right over Ohio in 2024. And I got excited again.
Now, I live just outside of the zone of totality, so I could still get a pretty good view from my condo. And I was working from home today, so I decided to log off early and go outside to witness the event. I planned to enjoy it with a beer and some popcorn, but in the end, I put it all back in the fridge and pantry. Beyond the photos I took, I just wanted to enjoy the show.
And enjoy it, I did. Me and some of my neighbors were out in the street, just watching the light change. Watching the streets go grey. And it was grey, like a dark grey filter had been placed over the world. Looking back on it, it was like being in one of those movies where the filmmakers use filters to give everything a moody, morose feel. Like Sweeney Todd or Dead Silence. The lights attached to our buildings came on, their sensors as fooled as the animals around us were.
And, of course, there was the show above us. And it was magnificent.
Except for the briefest of glances, I viewed the event entirely through my eclipse glasses. I watched as the sun shrank, become a big smile, then a sliver, and then a tiny slit. It was kind of crazy. You see eclipses in movies and shows, but that’s all special effects or animation or stock footage. This was the real thing, and it was amazing to be witnessing it. To see the moon cover the sun and bathe the world in an unnatural darkness.
After a few minutes, the slit started to widen again and become a crescent shape, followed by a Cheshire-cat smile. Over the course of a few minutes, the light returned to normal and the animals settled down. And when the lights on our building went out, I knew it was over. I went back inside.
I don’t feel changed or anything. Maybe a little sunburned from going out in what feels like May weather. But I feel incredibly happy to have witnessed that eclipse. To have seen a monumental event that used to be unpredictable and put people into terror, and which now we consider ourselves lucky to witness. To be part of an astronomical event that reminds us that we’re just tiny beings crawling on the surface of the Earth, and that this universe turns and moves like clockwork and we’ve gotten to the point where we can look forward to observing that clockwork.
Well, it’s just amazing. Awe-inspiring, really.
And I’m glad I got some good photos of the event. I had to be careful: according to an article I read, you need to put filters over your phone cameras. Otherwise, your phone will try to gather as much light as possible, and that could damage your eyes. Especially if you take off your eclipse glasses to take the photo. So, I put my spare pair over my phone camera, pointed it to the sky, and took some photos. The one above and this one are the best ones.
If you look closely, it’s kind of a half-sun up there. Pretty cool, right? I wanted to come away with some photos, so I took these before focusing on the event. I’m glad I did. They’re awesome!
And now, the eclipse is over. The next one to hit the United States will pass over Alaska and Canada in 2033, and then over Montana and the Dakota in 2044. I doubt I’ll see the one in Alaska, and I don’t think I’ll see the one in 2044 either. So, I’ll count my blessings and be happy that I got to witness this one.
Did you witness the eclipse? What was your experience like? Have you ever witnessed an eclipse before? Will you witness the next few in the future? Let’s discuss.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. So glad none of us got Raptured, though I do wish some of us got superpowers or witnessed a demonic entity be released from the eclipse. Well, until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
The other night, I was reading the final volume of the manga Alice in Borderland. If you haven’t read the original manga or seen the kickass live-action adaptation on Netflix, the story follows a teenager who finds himself among several people randomly placed in a Tokyo emptied of people. Even stranger, the people left in Tokyo have to take place in life-or-death games. If they win the games, they’ll get to live a bit longer. If they lose, they die. And if they don’t survive the games, a laser will come out of the sky and kill them.
Yeah, pretty dark stuff. Makes for a great sci-fi thriller.
Anyway, without spoiling the end of the manga or the TV series, the last chapter features a reporter asking random people on the street why they’re alive. Seems like a random way to end a rollercoaster of a manga, until you realize the death games the characters deal with takes a toll on them psychologically, to the point that some of them even wonder if it’s worth trying to live.
The answers the reporter gets are all over the place. A few aren’t interested in answering and make sure the reporter knows it. A few more don’t know and have never thought about it. Several give variations on “So I can die without regrets” or “I do it because there’s someone important in my life.” Some answers are shallow, like the weekend beer or for material things. Others are about how happy they are everyday or pursuing what they love.
One woman thinks it’s to find out why we’re here, while two others think it’s because of biology.
One little girl in Gothic Lolita dress says she’s living and putting herself in misery everyday for revenge against her parents.*
One man says it’s because this life is all there is.
A couple, for one reason or another, are just going through the motions until they die.
Reading the chapter, I realized something; none of us really know why we’re alive. Not what the meaning of life is; that related, but I feel like that’s a question revolving around the general population and not the individual.
But seriously, why are we alive? Was each one of us placed on this planet for a purpose? Is it just because of biological drives for survival? The need to reproduce and pass on our DNA to a new generation? Is it something we need to figure out for ourselves? Or is it just because we’re already alive, so might as well keep living?
Or perhaps it’s not something we should not think too much about. Perhaps instead we should live.
It’s a question that would probably puzzle this guy for quite a while.
It’s something I’ve been thinking about since I read that chapter. I know my purpose in life, the purpose I set for myself: live a good life, write some damn good horror stories, and try to leave this world a bit better than I found it. And I have an opinion on what the meaning of life is (no, it’s not 42). But are those the same answers to this question?
Maybe. Or maybe not. Like I said, I don’t get up every day thinking, “I’m getting up and I’m alive to write scary stories and have a good life and improve the world.”
Hmm…but I do get up every morning because I have dreams I want to pursue. A lot of what I do everyday is because I want to achieve those dreams. So maybe’s that’s why I’m alive.
But in the end, I don’t know if I need to think about it that hard. It never was something I needed to think that hard about before, after all. Why should that change going forward?
In any event, I’ll keep going forward. I’ll keep pursuing those dreams and hopefully improving my life and the lives of others while I’m at it. And maybe, if a reporter asks me, “Why are you alive?”, I’ll have a decent answer.
How would you answer that reporter’s question? What do you think of this topic? Was this too heavy a subject for a blog post?
*And I’m probably going to write a story around that little girl, because that answer was just too dark and intriguing for me to just pass over. I want to write a story around her and find out what made her like that!
Just a reminder, my Followers of Fear: this Saturday, April 6, I’ll be at the Wagnalls Library in Lithopolis, Ohio from 10 AM – 2 PM for their Local Author Fair. If you can, please stop by. I’ll be selling books, doing Tarot readings, and sitting on a panel. You can find out more on their website here. Hope to see you there!
Until next time, my Followers of Fear, good night, pleasant nightmares, and check out Alice in Borderland. Manga or TV show, it’s an awesome series. Just my two cents on the subject!
So, I’ve mentioned it here and there, but I am aromantic. I cannot feel romantic attraction or desire, and I frankly have no desire to (though I love writing romantic subplots into my stories) I even wrote about being aromantic in a post on Valentine’s Day last year. And not too long ago, I wrote an article about writing romantic subplots while being aromantic.
That article just came out today!
Interstellar Flight Press is a small science fiction and fantasy press that publishes both books and a magazine. The latter publishes both flash fiction and essays, with the essays ranging in topic from geekery and pop culture to the publishing industry and, as you can see, personal essays on writing. They expressed an interest in my essay when I mentioned it on Twitter, back when I was still on Twitter, so I sent it to them. And today, it’s been published.
The article is on the magazine’s website, which is published through Medium. You may need to create an account to access it, but I tell you, it’s worth the read. Yes, I’m biased, but I get to discuss aromantic representation, writing horror, and even Sailor Moon, all in one article. If that’s not worthy of reading, then I don’t know what is!
Anyway, I’ll leave a link below. I hope you’ll check out the article and let me know what you think. I’m excited to read your comments on it. It’s my first article and my first new published piece of work for 2024, so I have high hopes for it. Not to mention, I hope it’s the first of many pieces released this year (or accepted, I’ll take that, too).
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I really can’t wait to discuss the article with you. Until next time, good night (or good morning, I guess? It is 10 AM my time when this is releasing) and pleasant nightmares!
Recently, on the blog Broadside run by journalist Caitlin Kelly (check her out, she’s a great journalist who has interviewed Queen Elizabeth II, done pieces for the New York Times and other publishers, has two books out, and does writing/journalism coaching), she did a post where she answered 25 questions about herself.
I enjoyed the post, asked if I could do it myself while changing some questions (I don’t wear scents, for one thing), and where she got it. Caitlin told me it came from the Financial Times’ HTSI (apparently it’s a weekend supplement standing for “How to _______ It,” with “S” standing for a variety of things) and she gave me permission. And, with apparently a lot of new followers on this blog (or so WordPress tells me), I decided to try this and let you get to know me better.
So, thanks to Caitlin for giving me the inspiration for this post, and thank you for reading it. Without further ado, 25 Facts About Me, inspired by the Financial Times’ HTSI Questionnaire.
Something you never find me without.
My glasses. Unless I’m sleeping or in the shower/bath, they’re on my face and helping me see. I also have prescription sunglasses for those days where that nasty sun is making its presence known. I also wear some rings and a necklace with personal meaning to me, and I often wear a watch (though typing with it hurts my wrist, so I take it off when I’m using a keyboard).
The last thing I bought and loved.
This is the poster I bought of the King in Yellow. It’s by Abbie Norton and available from the YouTube channel Tale Foundry. Isn’t it awesome?
A poster from one of my favorite YouTube channels depicting the King in Yellow. I got it specially framed and the poster now hangs over my bed. It’s such a cool piece of art, and I hope it gives me great ideas while I sleep.
Places that mean a lot to me.
Marietta, Ohio is lovely. I love going down there to explore the paranormal hot spots or enjoy the beautiful scenery. Just going down this past November helped me de-stress significantly. I also love New Orleans. It’s such a beautiful city and I want to go back again someday.
The best book I’ve read this year.
God, hard to choose. I go through so many. I really enjoyed Paperbacks from Hell by Grady Hendrix, and The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle was amazing. There was also The Store by Bentley Little, All Hallows by Christopher Golden, and Sister Maiden Monster by Lucy Snyder. All were excellent books.
The podcast or audio book I’m listening to.
I’ve about 19 hours left of IT, which I haven’t read since college. Afterwards, I plan to listen to The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
What I need to write.
I sit in front of my computer in my office with something to drink (tea or non-caffeinated diet soda, though I’ll have alcohol on the weekends or water if it’s super hot). I often have some sort of music playing, with what depending on the story. And I like burning incense in the background, as it fills the air with a sweet scent.
The item of clothing I’d save from a fire.
Probably my Jason Voorhees hockey jersey. I love wearing that thing on Fridays, whether it’s a Friday the 13th or not. Though if it’s too warm, I’ll wear something else on a Friday.
I’ve wanted to be a writer since…
Since I was ten or so. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I never thought of it as a career until that point. After all, kids want to be everything: scientists, rock stars, police officers, superheroes, etc. But I’d always go back to writing, and eventually I was like, “I think I’ll do this as a career.” Two years later, I discovered Stephen King, and that showed me what stories I was going to write for the rest of my life.
The writing moment that changed everything for me.
I think it was when a friend introduced me to my first publisher, Castrum Press. That would eventually lead to Rose being published, and has changed lots of things for me since then.
Talents I don’t normally talk about.
Well, I can cook decently. Not many things, but enough that I eat well and on the rare occasion I have guests, I can whip up something awesome. I’m also good at making people feel old. I’ve made my coworkers cringe in horror by reminding them how much younger I am than them. This will probably come back to haunt me someday, but for now, I wield it with sadism pride.
The best gift I’ve given recently.
Impossible to say without getting too personal. Though I did give my dad and stepmom some delicious banana bread when I stayed with them recently, so can I say that?
And the best gift I’ve received recently?
I love this Cthulhu onesie. It’s awesome!
I’ve gotten wonderful gifts from lots of people, both material and immaterial. But for the purpose of this post, I’ll say it’s my Cthulhu onesie. It’s awesome!
The last music I downloaded.
Some of the greatest hits from the Backstreet Boys. Don’t judge me, sometimes I’m just in the mood for them while at work!
In my fridge you’ll always find…
Yogurt, bread, soda, and maybe something of an alcoholic nature.
Something I want to do the next time I have a few days off.
I think I’d like to binge-watch some of my anime. I’ve a few seasons of different shows on DVD and Blu-Ray I haven’t watched in a while, so I’d like to take the time to just chillax and watch those shows. Maybe this summer? It would certainly be fun.
Some goals I’m working towards.
Obviously, I want to be able to write full-time someday, and I’m working on making that happen, slowly but surely. But there are other goals. I’m hopefully going to start doing some renovations to my condo that I’ve wanted to do since I moved in. And this may scare some of my readers, but I would like to get more tattoos someday.
Yes, I have tattoos. They’re normally covered by clothes.
Animals I feel a special kinship with.
Tigers are my spirit animal. I love their fierce beauty and power. I even have one tattooed on my chest.
I also love owls, ocelots, snakes, foxes, wolves, and regular cats and dogs. Honestly, I would love to be able to interact with any of these in a safe manner. The cats and dogs are easy enough, but the rest would probably be a challenge. Still, a guy can dream, can’t he?
A skill I wish I had and a skill I would like to learn.
I would love it if languages came easily to me. Unfortunately, perhaps because I just haven’t found the right teacher, I’m terrible with anything other than English (though I still remember plenty of Hebrew and some French and German). Maybe there’s a skill or technique that’s not a total scam to teach me other languages? If so, sound off in the comments!
If I could hang out with any of my characters, who would I hang out with?
Kat from my Backrooms story (still looking for a publisher for that one). She and I are both aromantic, and we have similar nerdy interests, so we would get along fine. We’d probably make some snacks, sit on the couch, and binge whatever we’re in the mood for.
Things I like to collect?
Books, obviously. I have over 600 or 700 books across various media, including ebooks and audio books. I also collect dolls and figurines, which I keep in my room. I think some of them are haunted and watch me in my sleep. And I have plenty of wall art, too, so I guess that counts.
What am I reading now?
Currently, I’m in the middle of Spectrum, which is an upcoming anthology of horror stories written by neurodivergent writers. Many of the stories are about the authors’ own neurological states, so it’s really personal. As someone who’s also neurodivergent (or “neuro-spicy,” according to some definitions), I’m finding it all very fascinating. Thanks to the publisher for furnishing me with an advanced copy (it comes out on April 2nd if you’re interested).
I’m also listening to IT on audio book. Though I already mentioned that, didn’t I?
What am I writing now?
A novella about a 3D printer from Hell. Well, hopefully it stays a novella. There’s a chance it could bloat into a novel. Though one way or another, I have a feeling it’ll be a fun story. Very in line with the mass market horror stories of the 1970s and 1980s.
In another life I would have been…
When I went to Israel, my friends on the trip told me I’d make a great late-night show host, so maybe that. Or a radio or podcast host.
I’d also enjoy being a massage therapist, or even a professional dancer. Those are great jobs that bring people happiness and are fulfilling to the people doing them.
Though if I’m being honest, a sorcerer of dark magic is also quite appealing…
Something I try to do once a day.
I do one Tarot reading every day. I find Tarot helpful as a way to receive advice from the universe and get previews of the events in my life. And it can be scarily accurate sometimes.
Also, I’ve gotten skilled enough to do it at events where I sell books. People go crazy for it and it’s wonderful as an extra source of income. Though I can’t see me doing it everyday or as a career for a variety of reasons.
The best writing advice I can give.
You need to carve out the time to write. I give this to every writer, no matter their background or experience. A writing fairy will never appear before you and grant you certain hours in the day to write. You have to make that time. Sure, you might have to give some things up. But hey, look at this way: before becoming famous, Stephen King would find time every day to write in the laundry room of the trailer he, his wife and his three children lived in at the time.
If he can do that while also working as a teacher and an occasional gas station attendant, imagine what you can do if you cut a few non-essential things out here and there.
I hope you enjoyed that, my Followers of Fear. If any of the questions and answers really spoke to you, let’s discuss in the comments below. Be sure to also read Caitlin’s post, to see how I got inspired to write this one.
And if you are interested, do your own post like this! You can change the questions as you like, or come up with an entirely new list of questions. Just be sure to tag or link back to me so I can see your post.
That’s all for now. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!
A ranch is raising horses with a taste for meat. A creepypasta tale takes on a peculiar life of its own online and in one teenager’s group of friends. Repressed memories brought to the surface during a university English class begin a domino effect leading to something terrifying entering our world. And in one abandoned school, some ghost hunters get way more than what they bargained for during their investigation.
All these stories and more were released into the world six months ago, on a Saturday very much like this, September 23, 2023, when Hannah and Other Stories was released.
Now, if you’re unaware, Hannah and Other Stories is my second collection of short stories and my fifth book overall. It contains seven original short stories, the plots of some of which are up above. But trust me, all the stories are great.
Honestly, it’s been incredible to think that Hannah has been out for six months now. So much has happened since then, it feels like a lot more. And it’s been incredible to see the reader response! Nearly every person who’s read it has responded positively. This makes the nearly two years it took working with the publisher, plus the several months prior writing and editing and double editing the stories, so worth it.
Here’s what people are saying on Amazon and Goodreads, where the book is rated 4.6 on both sites:
I just finished Hannah and Other Stories by Rami Ungar. This is a great little collection. Stories range from ghost hunting to the dangers of social media to diabolical new friends and Lovecraftian horrors and more. Had this on my TBR for a while and finally pulled the trigger to finish (the adhd is strong). Very fun collection and I would recommend it and am excited to see his future work. I give it a 4/5.
Dustin Allen, Amazon
Along with the titular story, “Hannah”, this collection from the Master of Fear comprises 5 other short stories and a novelette.
There is a certain level of intense imagination, dread-filled atmosphere, and relatable characters that I’ve come to expect from Ungar’s short stories. The last three stories in this collection certainly delivered all these qualities and more.
This is an enjoyable anthology, with solid stories. At times, the political message in some of the stories detracted from the characters and plot. It worked best in “The Red Bursts”, where it layered seamlessly with other thematic elements without distracting from the story.
“Hannah and Other Stories” is a worthy addition to the bookshelves of the Followers of Fear.
Iseult Murphy, author of “Gone But Not Forgotten” and “7 Days in Hell,” Goodreads
Horrifying stories from Ohio to the Paris Catacombs. This amazing book has 7 horrifying short stories from monsters and ghosts to crazed children. Amazing writing. If I had to pick a favorite story, it would be Queen Alice. But every story was outstanding and creepy. I absolutely loved this book.
Rhonda Bobbitt, Amazon
Budding serial killers, carnivorous horses, and cosmic monsters. This collection has a fun spooky variety all viewed through the weird lens of Rami Ungar’s imagination. I’ve read a few of his books before (The Pure World Comes is a notable one), and Rami has really found his voice here. A couple of my favorites are Autopsy Kid and Queen Alice. Autopsy Kid is visceral and gut-wrenching, a tale about a girl caught in the web of a psychopath. And Queen Alice is truly terrifying in a deep way, a story about the possessive/obsessive power of social media culture. Check it out!
Allen Huntsman, author and YouTuber, Goodreads
Aren’t my mother and I hilarious?
Some pretty good reviews. And there are more out there. I’ll include links below if you’re interested. Also, did I mention my mother texted me the other day and told me she can’t look or even think about horses without thinking about the story I wrote with the carnivorous horses? And if that’s not high praise, I don’t know what is!
I also can’t think of horses without thinking about those carnivorous horses, either. I saw a guy cosplaying as a horse at a convention not too long ago (yes, seriously), and could not think of anything else. Too bad he wasn’t into horror. I think otherwise he might have read the book.
And speaking of which, if you’re interested in reading Hannah and Other Stories, I’ll include links below. Right now, it’s only available in ebook, but if more people keep reading and reviewing the book, it could get a paperback and maybe even an audio book edition. So, even if you don’t read ebook, please consider supporting the book and grabbing a copy.
And if you do read ebooks, please be sure to read this one and to leave a review. Positive or negative, I love reader feedback, and it helps me and other readers along the way. Plus, there’s that whole getting a paperback edition thing.
Anyway, that’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. I’ll probably celebrate tonight with some delicious wine and maybe something sweet. Maybe I’ll also do some reading. Perhaps you’ll have a drink and read Hannah with me? I can hope. After all, it is the six month anniversary. Amazing things can happen.
Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares.
Many writers dream of getting lucky. Of just one reader discovering their book or short story or whatever. Of that reader enthusiastically bragging about it and telling all their friends. Those friends then read the book, and like that, a snowball gets rolling, eventually leading to the writer’s big discovery and hopeful ever after.
It’s sad to say, but that sort of lucky break doesn’t happen that often, if it happens at all. In this industry, or any other industry (like being a professional YouTuber), becoming successful (which here we will define as being able to do what you’re doing full-time and make a decent living out of it) is often the result of a confluence of multiple factors. It could be that trends favor what you’re producing, or that enough people talk about your book on a particular social media platform, or your publisher orders enough copies printed that people pay attention, because nobody prints that many copies without expecting decent sales and reviews.
Hell, the one incident I can think of where someone did receive that sort of luck, fantasy author Chelsea Banning (read my interview with her here), was like winning the lottery. And last I checked, she still works part-time because, while her writing career has had a huge boost, it still doesn’t pay all the bills. Or at least not enough that she feels she doesn’t need another income source.
Now, I’m not saying you shouldn’t aim to be a full-time writer. I’m aiming for that 24/7. But don’t expect that it’ll happen on pure talent and a smattering of luck. You need to work for it. You need to make your own luck.
I was reminded of this at a convention I attended not too long ago. I was in the author’s room, and let me tell you, things were dead. Not fun dead, but dead. There were a number of reasons for that, including a low attendance rate, but it certainly wasn’t helped by the fact that other rooms had big signs advertising what was happening in them, and we…had a single piece of paper next to the door that was covered half the time by people whose booths were on either side of the room. It was like nobody knew we were there.
At one point, I was so frustrated by this, I went into the hallways of the convention, dressed in full author gear, shouting “Come stop by Author’s Alley! You may find your next great read there!” Was it kind of embarrassing? Yes. But it did remind people that we were there. And a few said they were going to stop by, which probably increased some authors’ profits a bit. Maybe even mine.
And now, some of those readers who were alerted to our presence have our books. Maybe they’ll read them, enjoy them, leave us reviews, and lead others to read our works. Like I said at the top of the post, no luck but what we make.
(Yes, I know that’s mangling a famous Terminator quote, but can you blame me?)
So, how do we make luck? Well, we don’t wait for readers to come to us. That’s a mistake. We have to draw them to us. Not just through social media and blog posts, though that does help. We have to make ourselves seen at events, both to sell and to network. We have to talk to people, both readers and fellow writers, because if they like us, then they’re more likely to read our work or continue a relationship with us. And occasionally, we have to take a risk like going out into a hallway and shouting, “Hey, come visit Author’s Alley!”
These and other tactics can get readers interested and lead to your work being read and reviewed and discovered by other readers. And, perhaps, with lots of hard work and the right confluence of events…who knows? You could end up writing full-time. That’s my goal. And as long as it’s legal, ethical, and doesn’t have too much risk, I’ll do whatever I can to make that happen.
Just a reminder before the weekend, my Followers of Fear: I’ll be attempting to make my own luck happen by being at ShamROCK this Saturday, March 16, 2024. This pagan spring festival will be at the Courtyard by Marriott – West Side Columbus. I’ll be selling books, reading Tarot cards, and probably dancing my butt off to celebrate the end of winter (hopefully I don’t drink myself crazy and take off my clothes, lol). If you would like to stop by, check out the website here.
And, if you’re not able to come, consider supporting me by reading one of my books (see how I’m making more of my own luck?). From carnivorous horses and Mafia-hunting serial killers to plant/human hybrids and strange gods, I’ve got something for every horror fan, so why not give them a read? And if you do, please leave a review, so I and other readers know what you think.
Just click on the link below to my Book Links and Excerpts page. You’ll find all my work there, including some free stories. I look forward to hearing what you think.
That’s all for now, my Followers of Fear. Until next time, good night and pleasant nightmares!
Earlier this week, I tried to write a story about a cursed anime. And I thought I would have a blast writing it. I mean, horror and anime, two of my great loves! And for a bit of added fun, maybe some ballet, because God knows I like putting that into my stories like King enjoys throwing in psychics and other writers.
But for some reason, while working on the outline, I just couldn’t make it work. Every time I tried to add to the outline, I just felt blocked and frustrated. After a while, I just figured that I would need to find a different way to tell this story, so I put it back in the proverbial idea bin.
And you know what? That’s okay. This sort of thing happens to writers of all stripes, not just me. Sometimes, you just need to put the story away and hope a way to tell it eventually comes to you.
That’s what Stephen King did for Under the Dome. He tried numerous times to write that novel, but it just didn’t click for him. Not for around thirty years. But eventually he was able to find some way to get unstuck and knock out one hell of a doorstopper novel.
Who’s to say that couldn’t happen with this anime story? Either that, or I could make a graphic novel out of it, provided I could find a good artist to work with.
For now, though, while I wait for that story to click or an artist to collaborate with, I have something new to work on. A story about a 3D printer from Hell. And judging by the progress I’m making in the outline, I won’t have the same issue. Yeah, I’m still figuring out where it’s going, but I’m figuring it out by leaps and bounds.
Makes me think it could be one hell of a read when I’m done. And I’ll have one fun ride while writing it.
My signed copy of Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Back in September, author Silvia Moreno-Garcia visited Columbus as part of my local library’s Carnegie Author series of events. Me and many of my fellow members of HWA Ohio went to see the event, where she talked about the influences behind her latest book, Silver Nitrate, which I later got signed by the author herself. That was a cool Sunday.
Months later, I finally cracked open the book to read it. And, as you can tell from this blog post, I’m going to review it.
Taking place in Mexico City in the 1990s, Silver Nitrate follows Montserrat, the only female sound editor in a studio dominated by chauvinistic men, and her best friend Tristan, a former soap opera star whose career was marred by tragedy and now makes a living doing voicework. Their lives change forever when they meet Abel Urueta, a film director they both once loved whose last film was never completed. After learning the history of the film, including that it was co-written by a German occultist with Nazi ties who was trying to cast a spell with the film, Urueta convinces them to help him finish the film and occultist’s spell, thereby possibly fixing a string of bad luck that has plagued the director.
What occurs next is a series of events that comes with two realizations for our two leads. One is that magic, especially magic in film, is more than just a metaphor. The other is that they have set something in motion, something big. And if they’re not careful, they’re going to lose everything from it.
The best part of this book is definitely our two leads. Montserrat and Tristan are such fully realized characters that you feel like they could step out of the pages and you’d know them. Montserrat is quite prickly but does care a lot, while Tristan is slightly narcissistic and dramatic but does care and wishes he were a better person. Their interplay throughout the book is fun to watch, as well as their reliance on one another.
Another plus of the book is the magic system. Those of you who’ve been with me for a while know that I studied Nazi occultism in preparation for my WWII study abroad trip in college. Yes, a lot of that stuff is real, though it is highly exaggerated in most depictions. In any case, I was delighted to see a lot of what I had learned mixed in with the magic system used in the novel. It made it easy for me to grasp, and gave it a sense of “realism,” so to speak, that I liked.
However, Silver Nitrate does have its flaws. So much time is spent explaining the complexities of the magic system that the slow burn of the story is too slow. Things don’t really start to get exciting to the last hundred pages or so, and by then it’s a bit too late to really bring up the book’s final score.
I also had some issues with the ending, but I won’t say what because I don’t want to spoil it.
All in all, I would give Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia a 3.9 out of 5. It’s a bit too slow for my tastes, but it’s got great characters and a fully realized setting and magic system. If you’re interested, give it a read and fall down the occultism rabbit hole.
Rami Ungar The Writer 