Thanks again for those reading and enjoying my recent anthology The Misery King’s Country. Continuing with my “Behind the Misery” author notes, here are some behind the scenes tidbits on 5 more tales! Check out PART 1 if you missed it.
Carefree Parenting (2019)—This 100-word drabble, first published by The Horror Tree, is sort of my apocalyptic take on the song “Que Sera, Sera.” I think sometimes in life we get a lot of well-intended “let your hair down and be wild and crazy” advice when we’re younger, and I suppose I’m parodying that here.
It Watches (2019)—First published by Tell-Tale Press. The idea of the “eye monster” came first as a sketch I did while waiting for a writers group meeting to start. As I sat down to write the story, I used it as a challenge for evoking the setting of the mid-1990s. Chance’s story about a female Knight is based on a story that I wrote in middle school. I wonder if there’s still a copy of that story in my parents’ attic. The scene in the bank vault is inspired by my days working as a teller. I never got robbed in my banking days, but we were well-instructed on how to handle it.
Ice Cold Lemonade (2021)—Another Horror Tree story! This one started as a cool title in a brainstorming list. I figured the titular beverage suited a hot, summer, daytime horror story, and what’s a lemonade stand without a couple of creepy kids? If you want to check out another “creepy kid” story, go read “Ink” in The Misery King’s Closet.
The Gray Man’s Promise (2022)—Previously published by Dark Recesses Press, the Gray Man is my creepy, Tim-Burtonesque take on the Tin Man. Check out that absolutely killer illustration of the Gray Man by artist Vincent Bailey from the original publication. However, as much as I like the monster, for me, the human characters and their family dynamic are the core of this story. The narrator Traci is one of my favorite “middle-child” protagonists holding her family together. Of course, for the ultimate “middle-child” novel written by a middle-child, check out my middle-grade adventure book Grayson North: Frost-Keeper of the Windy City. Grayson will be getting a second edition in 2024, but if you’re having trouble finding a copy, please reach out to me on social media.
Can’t Unsee (2018)—Not much to say about this 100-word drabble, previously published by The Horror Tree, except that I’m pretty good at cracking eggs, and to date, I have never seen anything gross or horrific come out of one. For another “beware of eggs” story, check out my New Pangea dinosaur tale “Scavenger’s Path,” which will also be seeing a reprint in 2024 (more New Pangea news on the horizon).
Anything else you want to know about these or any of my stories? I’d would love to hear from you! Comment below or reach out on social media!
