The Morningstar Confession by Matthew Lutton

 

Let's get religious for a second. I know, it's one of those forbidden topics. But this is my blog, and I can do whatever the hell I want. I was lucky enough to beta The Morningstar Confession by Matt Lutton, but I've held off on reviewing it until it was published. Although Matt has proven himself to be an incredible storyteller with his collections, this is his debut novel, and it's fair to say I was curious how the process would play out for him from start to finish. There's a lot that can change between the beta phase and publishing, and as an editor myself, I'm unfortunately very aware of how often the author's voice and integrity can get lost in the shuffle. I'm excited to say, at least from my purview,  this played out quite well for Matt. The Morningstar Confession has received a ton of well-deserved praise since its release.

Religious horror can be a tricky thing. We're all aware of the typical possession story, although that can be lumped in with the paranormal and ghost stories depending on the presence of certain hallmarks. Do you have a priest? Does a demon talk mad shit through its host? Is there some underlying religious context about how a life without a god can lead to danger, and a man of the cloth can save the day? That's been done (and quite well, I might add). You've also got your stories that completely shit on religion and make a mockery of it. As an atheist myself, I don't see the problem there, but there's a potential for controversy and the possibility of pissing off a good portion of your potential audience. Yet some authors do it anyway, and good for them, I say. The Morningstar Confession does something different.

Lutton takes The Bible stories we've heard all our lives and turns them on their heads. The stories were all written by man, right? Heard from God himself and transcribed through the fingers of his loyal followers. Well, what if they were wrong? What if God just told these fellas what he wanted the rest of the world to hear, and things didn't really happen that way? Sounds shockingly similar to modern-day media, but I digress. Having read some of Lutton's shorter works, I was already aware of his level of creativity and how limitless his imagination is. Seeing it all play out in a full-length novel in such a unique way was so much fun. Giving us the devil's point of view for some of The Bible's most notorious stories gave readers something to think about without being outright blasphemous. It's one long, poignant "what if?" I'd say I'd love to crawl into Matt's brain for a day just to see where his ideas come from, but I think I might be scared of what I'd find. 

I asked Matt some questions about his book and his writing.

Q: What was the impetus that inspired you to tell stories we've all heard before from a different point of view?

A: I've always enjoyed telling stories. If you think about it, that's all humans do, really. "How was your day?" That's inviting someone to tell you the story of their day. So, I think it comes kind of naturally that I just like telling stories that make people feel something.

Q: You're a great storyteller. Have you always had an incredibly active imagination? When did you know you wanted to use it to write books?

A: That's kind of you to say. Thank you. I like to say I'm a storyteller, not a writer. I can't write to save my life, but I can tell you a story. My imagination was always pretty strong. I loved toys as a kid, and that's when you really got to use your imagination. Be it coming up with battles or inner dialogue, we all kind of wrote stories as children when we played. I just never grew out of that as an adult. I had never thought about writing an actual book until I was listening to Books of Blood on audio and would almost guess the ending or where the plot was going. In a couple instances, I would be wrong, and I liked my ending better. No disrespect to Clive Barker. They were all masterful stories. That got me thinking of my own ideas for stories, and so I decided to just write some down on my breaks. Enough people enjoyed them that they asked for more, and here we are.

Q: What are you working on now, or what comes next for you?

A: I just finished my first novel, The Morningstar Confession, and I am hoping to start the follow-up soon. This one seems to be resonating with a lot of people, so it's nice to hear how the story has affected them.

If you like religious horror or creative retellings, add The Morningstar Confession to your TBR. This is one worth seeing what all the hype is about!

Happy Release Day, Steven Pajak!

 

Steve Pajak is a lot of things. He's a publisher, a formatter, an artist, a supportive friend, and he can weave one hell of a tale. Pajak is magic with his words, attacking every single one of our senses to make us feel like we're standing right next to the characters. We taste what they taste, smell what they smell, feel what they feel. This book is a prime example of that magic. Murder, Inc. came at a time when we needed it most. The main character, Davina, is so many women. We see her in all her vulnerability, and we see her in her rage. Her story is a reminder of a grim reality, and her revenge satisfies the desire for justice that we rarely see in real life. I see Murder, Inc. as a horrifying story of both pain and empowerment. Pajak has created a character that we want to see succeed, even if her methods are a little questionable (does Dexter ring a bell?). If you love tales of revenge, strong female leads, and some good old blood and gore, you won't want to miss this one. 

Steve was kind enough to answer a few questions for me about his book and his writing!

Q: Davina is a strong, badass female character. Where did you draw your inspiration from for her character?

A: I have been around strong and capable women my entire life. My father bailed on us when I was four, leaving my mother alone to raise three boys in Chicago in the 1980s. Davina is heavily inspired by my mother. My father was very abusive, not quite as bad as Reggie in the novel, but not too far off. My mother was a survivor who protected us fiercely and sacrificed a lot for us. My mother is strong and fearless and taught me to love, respect, and sometimes fear the wrath of women.

Q: Your writing is incredibly descriptive and really puts readers in the moment. We can feel ,taste, and smell what the characters are experiencing. How do you accomplish that in your writing? Do you make a conscious effort to include sensory language, or do you think it's just your style?

A: I don't think it is something that I give much thought to or make a point of consciously focusing on, but I am glad it comes through in my writing. I just think it's part of how I process and imagine scenes. When I'm writing, I try to picture myself in the scene alongside the characters and situation, and I guess the sensory and emotional details naturally follow that.

Q: What projects are you currently working on, or what's next for you?

A: I am concurrently working on two projects scheduled for 2025. I have finished a first draft of a Christmas horror novel titled "The 25th Door" and I hope to get it out to alpha readers after the holidays. I have just started working on "Corpse Girl" which I believe will be the first in a series of novels following our titular character. I'm really excited about this one. I'm also working on several short stories for various anthologies, as well as a novella that will be part of a modern take on the horsemen of the apocalypse with Megan Stockton, Nikki Noir, and RE Sargent. 

Could you think of a better guy to support by buying his books?! Really though, Steve is a gem. Grab your copy of Murder, Inc. here.

Hush, My Darling by Leigh Kenny

 

I've been super excited to review Hush, My Darling by my long lost Irish twin, Leigh Kenny, not only because I love her but because I love this book! 

Megan is taking a solo trip through Ireland, her father's homeland, and finds herself a bit lost amongst the Wicklow Mountains. She's rescued by some local men, and things get real creeptastic from there. While her and her rental car are nursed back to health, Megan is introduced to a strange array of members of the Brogan family. The more time passes, the more things feel off.

If you're in need of a read that builds a sense of dread in the most perfect way, bump Hush, My Darling to the top of your list! I don't think I could have read it at a better time. I love books that throw some action in your face right off the bat as much as the next person, but there was something so refreshing about being completely engulfed in a story that reveals tiny secrets to you piece by piece at the perfect pace. You know those books where you feel like you've read 75% of the way through and nothing happens, and the payoff at the end may or may not be worth it? This is not that. It's also not a book that's going to give you blood and guts in the first few pages. It's a book that builds upon a very real fear a little at a time, bringing you along on Megan's journey until the very end.

You're not going to get ghosts, zombies, or demons. You're going to get people, which may be the scariest creatures of all. And it's all delivered in a way that makes you feel as though you or someone you know could be Megan. When do you realize you've made the wrong choice? Can you trust your instincts? Do you really know who is safe and who is dangerous based off a first impression? Sometimes it's so easy to read these books that contain entirely plausible events and make judgments about the characters' actions. "I'd never do that," or "I'd know right away." But would you? Let's hope you're not like Megan, and you never have to find out.

I'll also note the importance of reading Leigh's author notes, which speak about the very real and very dark history of the Wicklow Mountains. There are many Megans out there, and I hope their families find peace. 

Trying Something Different...

When I got the idea for this blog, it came to me on a night when I couldn't fall asleep. Sometimes we have the best ideas on those nights. Some of the greatest stories ever told came in a dream or on a sleepless night. But sometimes, we are delirious from exhaustion, and we think something sounds great only to realize later that it's not! Sometimes we also like to overestimate our abilities, especially if we are overachievers. It's me.  I'm we.  

The indie horror community is like a weird little family. Some of us love each other, talk to each other every day, and are more like siblings than friends. Some of us hate each other, like that cousin who pushed you in the pool with your phone in your pocket 10 years ago. You still don't talk at family events. There are even those we tolerate for the good of the group, even though we can't stand them. Like that great-aunt who the rest of your family thinks is just so sweet, even though she tells you she doesn't "understand your lifestyle" every chance she gets. 

There are times when this community feels so big. It's easy to miss out on local events because you're not looking for them in the right places, or you miss an announcement or a post. It's incredibly difficult to keep track of new releases and books you want to check out. We have our Goodreads lists, our Amazon wish lists, and some of us even have spreadsheets on our computers and notes in our phones. There is a new book release every week, sometimes every day, and it's not uncommon for some great reads to slip through the cracks due to the overwhelming choices.

There are other times where this community feels so small. You can't exactly do a quick Google search and find a compiled list of all the indie horror events in the country, or in the world. You most likely won't find a list of all the new releases coming out that's inclusive of all subgenres. I mean you could (kinda what I'm trying to do here). But more than likely, the events you're interested in and the authors you want to read are nestled within little corners of social media. 

I had a vision that The Heart of Indie Horror would be a place where indie horror readers could find something for them. I didn't want it to matter what subgenre they liked, what Facebook group they were in, or what country they were from. I think I started off with a pretty good idea. Then I realized something was missing. The reader.

This blog has been a lot of fun. It's a lot of work, but it's still a lot of fun. What I'm missing, though, is what appeals to you. For the first few months of its life, THOIH had a list a mile long of new releases, authors to interview, and events to promote. Authors were more than happy to have another place to talk about their book, and that's amazing, because they deserve it. I want nothing more than to support the indie authors out there who ground their fingertips to the bone writing stories that move us in one way or another. Well, I might want one thing more. I want to support the readers. I love the idea of promoting new releases, especially from newer authors. However, I don't think it means much to the readers at all if I haven't read the book. For a while, I was highlighting books without reading them first, just to get the word out there. I don't think there's really anything wrong with that, but to me, it feels incomplete. It feels like less than honest. I think what readers appreciate most is an honest review from someone they trust. That's how you get a reader to pick up a book. That means more than a post that says "buy this book." 

There are about a million reviewers out there. There are bloggers, TikTokers, Instagrammers, etc. I am fully confident that I have nothing to offer that someone out there doesn't already do. But I love this little thing I made, so I'm going to keep doing it, but I'm going to make a few changes first.

I would still like to highlight events that are happening and new book releases. There will always be pages on this blog that list the information for all events and releases that I'm aware of. However, I am no longer going to do highlights on books I haven't read. I'm going to do in-depth reviews on books I have, and I'm going to do them for books I've loved. You will never see me completely trash a book on this site. You will never see me write a review here for a book that didn't shake me to my core and move my soul. These books will be books I would recommend with my whole chest. I'll continue to do Q&As with the authors because I love digging into their brains just a little bit deeper. I might also post some random musings, just little nuggets of food for thought. Hopefully this will continue to be a space for authors to celebrate their works, but I think I also want it to be a space for you, and I might be brave enough to let it be a little space for me.

Shadows From The Basement by Jay Bower

 "This collection is a nightmarish descent into a basement filled with madness and despair, where the only certainty is the fear lurking in the shadows."

I am a Jay Bower stan! Not only is he an incredibly talented writer with a fascinating brain filled with the coolest of ideas, but he's a fabulous person, and I like to read books written by fabulous people! I've never read anything by Jay that disappointed me, and I just know Shadows From The Basement is going to keep that streak going. Early reviews are fantastic, as expected. This seems like the perfect book for anyone who is new to Jay's work and wants to get a feel for his writing or anyone who likes a collection that has a little taste of everything. 

Here's the synopsis:

A Collection of Tales to Haunt Your Nightmares

From the dusty, cobwebbed corners of the basement emerges a collection of blood-soaked horror stories. Long forgotten, these tales rise from the shadows to once again see the light.

Each story pulses with a life of its own, unraveling the deepest threads of human fear. Reality fractures under psychotic breaks, merciless killers stalk their prey, and ancient demonic entities rise to roam the Earth.

These pages drip with terror, each story unique and gripping, drawing readers into the shadows from which there is no escape.

This collection is a nightmarish descent into a basement filled with madness and despair, where the only certainty is the fear lurking in the shadows.

Come on! If that doesn't have you curious, I don't know what to tell you. Even just the description is chef's kiss!

Jay was kind enough to do a short Q&A with me about his newest collection and his writing.

Q: Do you have a preference for writing novels versus short stories? What is it that made you decide to put together this collection?

A: I used to write a lot of short stories. Like most horror authors, I cut my teeth on shorter fiction. As I grew more comfortable with them, I challenged myself to write longer stories. Ever since then, I do prefer writing novels because I can explore more of the characters. I'll still write short stories on occasion, but I've grown to love novels more. It's kind of funny because in my collections, the stories that tend to be reader favorites are the longer ones.

I wanted to put this collection together because I had a lot of stories without a home. Readers loved my first collection, Hanging Corpses, so I hope they'll enjoy this one as well.

Q: It's common for short story collections to have an overarching theme, but there's a little bit of everything in Shadows From The Basement! Could you share where you got the inspiration for some of the stories within the collection?

A: Sure! About 2/3 of the stories that make up Shadows From The Basement were previously released in one way or another. In anthologies, online, in different collections, but the rights have all reverted back to me. The rest of the stories are all brand new and have never been released before. I'll give inspiration for a couple of the stories.

From Dust to Dust is quickly becoming a favorite among early readers. It was originally written for a themed anthology. The anthology fizzled out before I ever turned it in, so I changed a few things and made it my own. The piece is set in the 1930s because that was my decade for the anthology. I didn't want to change it once it became solely mine and thought the period piece worked well for the story. The location was also somewhat dictated by the anthology, though I did make some changes to better suit the story and mark a clear break from the anthology.

Necrotic Sanitation is gross! It was written to be performed at the Gross Out contest at AuthorCon earlier in the spring of 2024, but I chickened out and didn't sign up for it. I'm kind of glad I didn't go through with it because I had never been to a Gross Out contest before and I got to experience my first one. My inspiration was to just go for something super gross to make the reader squirm. It's not something I normally write and thought it would be fun to give it a shot. Readers seem to respond how I had hoped, which is disgusted. I guess I did it right!

Q: I was lucky enough to hear a little about your writing process from you at a recent signing, and it seems like your brain is always brimming with ideas and pulling inspiration from everywhere! What was your process for choosing these particular stories, and how does your writing process differ with a collection versus a novel?

A: Short stories are inspired by all kinds of things. For example, four years ago I went on a family trip to the Grand Canyon and we stayed at an amazing cabin. The setting of The Forever Cabin is the place where we stayed. The story The Night I Was Born was written as an origin story for my character the Dreamwraith, from the novel of the same name. The girls in the story are also part of the novel, though as adults. The story Achievement Unlocked was inspired by my son and his friends and how they were totally engrossed in gaming. I thought what it would be like if they couldn't separate reality from the game.

I chose all of these stories not because they were centered around a theme, but because they represented various tropes and themes that I wanted to write about at one time or another. Maybe they will in turn inspire me to write a novel about the subject of one of the short stories, something I've done before.

I think one day I'd like to do a collection based on a common theme, but Shadows From the Basement is not that collection. It is instead a weird, unique collection of stories that allowed me to explore different subjects to see how they felt to write them. My hope is that readers will appreciate the randomness and get a better feel of the kind of stories they can expect from me.

Jay is an absolute gem, and you can see it in his answers! His passion for his writing can be felt through the pages of his books, so whether you're wanting to check him out for the first time or you're a long-time fan, get a copy of Shadows From the Basement! You can order a signed copy here or get the book or ebook here.

In Those Fading Stars by Andrew Najberg

 Happy Release Day, Andrew Najberg!

"...the stories press humanity against the macro and the micro scales of the universe - but every one of them shines a light on a little piece of our souls at the core."

Andrew Najberg is easily one of my favorite indie authors, both to read and to talk to. An interview I did with him and Blaine Daigle earlier this year was one of my favorites. He's like that teacher you wish you had in high school for that one boring subject you thought you hated, but you really just didn't understand it. He has a way of talking about things that makes you want to know more. There's an air of excitement and passion in the way he both speaks and writes, and it's a really cool thing to observe. 

I have never considered myself a "fan" of two subgenres of horror in particular: cosmic horror and sci-fi horror. Two books changed that for me this past year. One was This Thing Between Us by Gus Moreno. The other was Gollitok by Andrew Najberg. For that reason, I am so excited to read his newest release and first collection, In Those Fading Stars.

Here is a description of the collection:

A father whose son fades away every day unless he passes the boy a bit of his own life. Three robots holding a séance. A man who suffers the effects of an intergalactic portal opening in his stomach.

These stories exist at the intersection of science fiction, horror, and magic and explore both our humanity in the face of the weird as well as our most ordinary and fundamental relationships. Whether attempting to voyage to a distant star on a generational craft whose destination is so far no living passengers will reach it or whether a daughter’s new friend is teaching her to break the trendiest of dimensional boundaries, the stories press humanity against the macro and the micro scales of the universe – but everyone of them shines a light on a little piece of our souls at the core.

Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths.

Andrew answered a few questions about In Those Fading Stars and his writing in general.

Q: You've been involved in a number of anthologies, but what was the impetus for putting together your first short story collection?

A: Well, I've had a lot of luck getting these stories out in magazines, including some that have really strong reputations, but it's tough to get readers to visit magazines consistently. At the same time, these stories definitely have a significant part of my voice and person in them, and I really want them to reach a broader relationship. I have a lot of confidence that readers will find many pieces in this set to be genuinely moving - and once I realized I had enough that I felt were thematically cohesive with each other, this juts seemed the best way to get the stories out there.

Q: I have to admit I've never considered myself much of a sci-fi girlie, but I love how you marry sci-fi and horror. Where did your love for both genres start, and what are some inspirations for you in your writing?

A: I find that both science fiction and horror deal with reflections of reality. They're places we go when we want to cast our views about the world into something while also creating a strong vehicle for engaging readers. I do have things I want to say with my writing. The Mobius Door tackles a lot of serious questions about families, about reality, about identity - Gollitok explores a lot of questions about the fargility of the world, the nature of evil - and much more. At the same time, neither of them makes those things the exclusive focus. They use their narratives to allow the exploration of significant questions while also presenting a framework we can invest in emotionally. The same for these stories. Some are personal expressions like Before You Fade Away and The Robots Inside Us, some explore broader cultural issues like Intersected Sky and Where We Leave Ourselves - but each one is a statement about something that matters with me - and presented, hopefully in a way, people will find much more emotionally engaging than if I just made a Facebook post!

Q: Your writing style is so vivid and detailed. I know you have a map of Gollitok you'd drawn out, and it's amazing that you were able to put that landscape into words and paint it so clearly for readers. Do you typically use things like drawings, maps and other aids to flesh out your writing? What does your writing process looking like, and how did it differ for you when writing a collection versus a novel?

A: The truth is, I use very few tools. I keep almost zero notes. The Gollitok map was created because I specifically wanted to communicate a certain reality to a very real place that is Goli Otok, but none of my stories have outlines, character profiles, or anything like that. Instead, I run through things over and over in my head, re-read portions of the manuscripts I've already created. I do keep fragmentary notes about some planned upcoming scenes, but I delete those as I go, so I never have more than a few pages at any given time. Instead, the manuscript is alive to me. I shape it and adjust it as it grows, kind of like a bit of clay on a pottery wheel. The process mostly looks like me pacing around, talking to myself while I drive, typing and deleting on the computer and maybe just sitting back and staring at the ceiling.

Honestly, the more I learn about Andrew Najberg, the more fascinated I am. If you've read his work, the idea of him keeping virtually no notes or outlines and still having the ability to be as illustrative as he is with his writing is impressive. I will never stop touting the masterpiece that is Gollitok, and I hope to report back soon with similar feelings on In Those Fading Stars! Grab your copy today here or here.

Lore of the Jack-O'-Lantern by Brian Serven

 

Lore of the Jack-O'-Lantern by Brian Serven with art by Dan Blakeslee is a quick read perfect for the Halloween season. At just 56 pages, this novelette tells the tale of a ragtag group of kids who must fight the spirit of Stingy Jack, a frightening villain who steals children in exchange for avoiding the underworld. What I love most about this book is it's family friendly, it's fun for (almost) all ages, and it's reminiscent of the stories we may have told sitting in a circle with flashlights shining on our faces as kids. The nostalgia factor hits just as hard as the spooky factor. It's a classic little story that would be perfect to revisit yearly with the whole family. Not to mention, the cover and the artwork within the book are incredible! 

There's been a theme for me lately of reading stories or researching new releases that are based on urban legends or popular lore, and I have to admit, I am loving it! It's one of my favorite tropes. Halloween is the best time of year for a story that gives a new twist to an old tale! 

Brian Serven is definitely a name to watch in the indie horror scene. You'll from his Q&A he's an artist of many talents, creating not just stories on paper but full visual and audio productions for them. You HAVE to check this out!

Here's the synopsis:

It’s Halloween night and as seething sweets seekers troll the streets, a local gang of outcasts known as the Ferals desperately search for their missing friend. Grandma Collins’ old-country stories about Stingy Jack have come true. The veil between the living and dead is thin and children’s souls are irresistible. The Ferals must face the thing that lurks in the dark to rescue their friend before it’s too late.

Delving into the lore of the jack-o’-lantern, most people adorn their porches and steps with carved pumpkins to ward off evil spirits. However, what if the pumpkin lanterns aren’t warding evil, what if they are attracting it? In this reimagined tale of the Celtic lore, the Ferals must find an Underworld wandering entity that collects children to trade their souls to the Devil.

I asked Brian Serven a few questions about the book, and you can read the answers below!

Q: In a genre where it seems like everyone is trying to come up with a new twist or a new feel, what inspired you to take on the seemingly challenging task of writing such a classic Halloween story?

A: The inspiration for Lore of the Jack-O’-Lantern, in part, came from attending an event called Long Story Short: Dark Tales at an art space in Portsmouth, NH. Three presenters shared stories of haunted house experiences, UFO sightings, and an excerpt from a local author’s horror novel. I shared with my brother that I thought it would be fun to write a story that would fit into a short time slot at an event like this – so, the audience could hear a full story and not just a small part. 

A year later, I received an invitation to share a story, which I agreed to do, although I didn’t have anything written yet. With just a few short weeks to come up with something, I decided that in the spirit of the season, I wanted to write something definitively Halloween-themed. General horror has no season, so I started thinking about the roots of Halloween and its rituals. Pumpkins carved with leering faces really epitomizes Halloween, more than any other icon. 

That’s when I came upon the lore of Stingy Jack and carved turnips. Like many oral stories later written down, there were variances in the details of the stories, but the common thread was compelling. Naturally, I took some liberties with his story – one being that for Jack to encounter pumpkins, like we carve here, he had to be in the Northeast during the era of the story. The overall approach though was a nod to the timelessness of innocent children facing universal fears. 

 I read a much shorter version at the Dark Tales event and then was invited to read it on a radio show a month later. Once Halloween was over, I removed all time constraints and allowed myself to follow the characters and let the story grow and mature. Contrary to impressions, it wasn’t written for children, but because it was written to be read before a general audience, it is accessible to everyone. 

 After the book was published, I was able to perform the live reading with character actors reading dialogue, illustrations projected on a screen to be seen as the story is told, sound effects triggered, and I wrote seven original music interludes that were played live between chapters. The essence of the live performance was captured in the audiobook, which is more like a radio play. The live performance element was also the reason I chose to write it in present tense, which I know is unpopular, but I wanted listeners and readers to feel the urgency. 

 So, really, perhaps the deepest driving inspiration is wanting to create an immersive experience. I wanted adults (and children who would one day be adults) to feel nostalgic, to long for the place and time, to remember their childhoods, and to be able to come back to it because it's not about some mind-blowing plot twist, jolt or shock. This book tries to create a little world to lose yourself in as your shadows grow longer and Jack Frost gives you a chill at night. 

Q: What are some of your favorite urban legends and well-known scary stories? Did any of them serve as inspiration when you were writing Lore of the Jack-O-Lantern?

A: I trust that growing up in southeastern New Hampshire, really the center of New England, played a role in imbuing my psyche with tales of horror and the macabre. From the fears of the indigenous peoples who strived to live in harmony with the land and spirit world, to the migrating old-world fears of early Puritans and Protestants that were mixed with new world unknowns, to the unrelenting shore lines, dark valleys, towering mountains, and foreboding forests, and finally to authors like King and Lovecraft weaving tales of madness and ancient evils – it’s hard to pin down specific means of inspiration.

 I’ve always been fascinated with the origins of lore, myths, fables, and hymns. With these influences in mind, I composed an extension to the last song on the audiobook, He Just Keeps Coming, that features voices including my own, family members, friends, and children. 

One of the liberties I took with Stingy Jack is that as he wanders looking for prey, he whistles a somber tune. In the audiobook you can hear the melody (if you can call it that) throughout the story. There are two songs that feature the melody. The first is We Saw Jack, where in the middle of the building song, there’s a break, the melody is played on guitar before the drums kick in symbolizing the kids running. 

 The second song, He Just Keeps Coming, features the melody combined with the words, “Like the plague, he just keeps coming.” The idea behind this is that (in my own world of Stingy Jack) when Jack would come along to snatch children, townsfolk would hear the eerie melody in the air as he left. They remembered the melody and coupled it with the words, “Like the plague, he just keeps coming.” The parents of future generations sang those words, using his melody as a tale of warning. Hoping that if their children heard the melody, the words would leap into their minds, and they’d run home to safety. 

 Q: Are you working on anything new? Is there any intention to continue writing spooky tales that are fun for all ages, or can we expect to see different things from you?

 Before writing Lore of the Jack-O’-Lantern, I had taken a step back from a hardcore band I’d been in for a couple decades called BACKSTABBERS INC. The audiobook version of Lore of the Jack-O’-Lantern allowed me to bridge storytelling and music, which I’d really missed composing. I’m sort of swinging on a pendulum between storytelling and music composing. 

 Like most artists, I have an untold number of ideas and projects, but at the forefront, there are two literary projects I’m dividing my time between.

 One is a flash fiction / short story / lyrical prose collection named Nocturnum Malorum that will be home to stories like “Agora”, which is about an entity that secretly visits victims at night (Nocturnum Malorum translates to “Night Troubles”) and scrambles their minds creating what would be diagnosed as agoraphobia. It’s a lofty project that would require visual artistic talents beyond my skill set to capture the essence of the stories as well as many of the lyrical prose pieces would be accompanied by music, which I’ve been slowly working on. 

The other major project is a novel that I had shelved to prioritize Lore of the Jack-O’-Lantern and the subsequent audiobook production. I’ve been ruminating on the potential of it being part of a series that addresses my views of the afterlife, told through three novels. The other two novels have been outlined and parts written, but I really need to nail down the first. I will be seeking BETA readers for the first novel in early 2025. The content is undoubtedly more mature than Lore of the Jack-O’-Lantern, though I trust if categorized, these books would be considered Quiet Horror, a subgenre often considered accessible, which was also the approach to Lore of the Jack-O’-Lantern.

You can purchase the book, along with a physical CD of the audiobook, on Brian Serven's Etsy shop here. You can also find the audiobook digitally on Bandcamp and other vendor sites.