Support Local Shops this weekend!

Happy Thanksgiving, readers!

It’s that time of year again: time to support both local authors AND local businesses!

This coming weekend is full of great Black Friday deals, but don’t forget it’s also Small Business Saturday!

Your local businesses are running excellent promotions alongside those big stores. Small businesses are run by people who are passionate about the services and products they provide. They are our neighbors, and their profits stay within our communities. So this year, make sure you devote a big chunk of your holiday spending towards the friendly shopkeepers down the street.

I’m very grateful to the local businesses that have supported my writing. They’ve been instrumental in helping me get the word out!

Here are three fantastic local businesses that I want everyone to check out!

The Bookies: Paperback and More!
2419 W. 103^rd St.
(Between Western Ave. & Artesian Ave.)
(773)-239-1110
www.bookiespaperbacks.com

The Bookies is the local independent bookstore in the Beverly area on Chicago’s South Side, where yours truly grew up. When I was a kid my family would exchange boxes of used books for new ones at this great little shop. Today they’re still there serving a community of readers! I’m thrilled that they are now carrying my books as well.

This year, Bookies is offering great deals for holiday shoppers, starting with a 25% off Black Friday coupon. Details here:

http://bookiespaperbacks.com/2012/11/20/black-friday-coupon-from-the-bookies/

Chimera’s Comics
19 S. La Grange Road
La Grange, IL 60525
(708)352-1230
www.chimerascomics.com

Chimera’s is everything you would want from a comic shop. All the latest issues of DC, Marvel, and your favorite independent titles. Tons of cool merchandise and memorabilia. There’s always a great movie or cartoon playing on the wall. And most importantly, the owners are super nice guys who frequently host activities for young people in the community. In addition, they also support local authors like me!

Chimera’s “Blackest Friday” event will be running all weekend long, and includes some really cool deals, including buy two trades get one free! Full details here:

http://www.chimerascomics.com/inside/wordpressCC/?p=711

Frugal Muse Books
7511 Lemont Rd.
Darien, IL 60561
630-427-114
www.frugalmusebooks.com

Frugal Muse is another awesome local bookstore located in the Western Suburbs. They’ve
got a treasure trove of books, movies, music, comics, and more; and they’ll make you forget that you were ever sad that that overpriced Borders in your neighborhood closed down.

I will also be returning to Frugal Muse this December for a Dramatic Reading and Book Signing, so check that out too!

This year, Frugal Muse is hosting an Anniversary Sale all Black Friday weekend: 30% off used items, 10% off new.

Be sure to drop by these great businesses this weekend and get a jump start on your shopping season. And remember that you can buy my books Christmas Terror Tales and Jake Carter & The Nightmare Gallery at any of the fine establishments listed above! 🙂

And if you aren’t local, please remember to support the local down the street in your own community.

Happy Holidays! 🙂

Frugal Muse Books: www.frugalmusebooks.com
CTT at Bookies in South Chicago: http://bookiespaperbacks.com/
CTT at Chimera’s Comics in La Grange: http://www.chimerascomics.com/
Kevin Folliard’s Books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Folliard/e/B0097S7T0A/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
CTT on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Christmas-Terror-Tales/204731106257625

CTT Reading Flyer: CTT Reading Flyer_12_2012

Come join us for a dramatic reading at Frugal Muse in Darien on December 14th!

Please join us on Friday, December 14th from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. for a dramatic reading and book signing at Frugal Muse Books in Darien, IL! Frugal Muse is one of a handful of excellent Chicagoland bookstores that has supported my writing over the past few years, and I’m thrilled to be back there spreading holiday horrors!

Last year we had a great time reading scary stories, enjoying refreshments, and getting a little holiday shopping done on the side. This year, in addition to Christmas Terror Tales, I’ll also be reading an exerpt from my dark fantasy novel Jake Carter & the Nightmare Gallery!

The Details:

What: Dramatic Reading of Christmas Terror Tales & Jake Carter & the Nightmare Gallery
When: Friday, December 14th from 7-9PM
Where: Frugal Muse Books
7511 Lemont Rd.
Darien, IL 60561
630-427-1140
www.frugalmusebooks.com

Signed copies of CTT will be available for $5, or buy 4 get one free!  Jake Carter will be available for $7.50! The event flyer is attached below.

Frugal Muse Books: www.frugalmusebooks.com
CTT at Bookies in South Chicago: http://bookiespaperbacks.com/
CTT at Chimera’s Comics in La Grange: http://www.chimerascomics.com/
Kevin Folliard’s Books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Folliard/e/B0097S7T0A/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
CTT on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Christmas-Terror-Tales/204731106257625

Event Flyer: CTT Reading Flyer_12_2012

Join us this Monday as we discuss Jake Carter, The Nightmare Gallery, and the process of writing Jake Carter & the Nightmare Gallery!

Hey Everyone!

Wanted to draw attention to 2 important events that are right around the corner:

1. I will be a guest on The Writer’s Lounge Monday, October 15th at 7PM Central, to discuss my dark fantasy novel Jake Carter and the Nightmare Gallery with hosts Tom Riddell and Robin Eduardo. Tom wrote a great review of Jake Carter which you can check out here. We had an excellent discussion of Christmas Terror Tales and the process of writing last year, and I’m really looking forward to another one! 🙂

2. Next week from Monday October 15th through Friday October 19th, my Kindle exclusive Christmas Terror Tale “Below” will be FREE. Totally FREE for five full days. I definitely want all my readers to take advantage and help spread the word. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can also read it on your PC, Tablet, or Mobile device.

FREE from 10/15 - 10-19!

Plenty more fun announcements to come as the 2012 scary story season unfolds! Chicago area readers, don’t forget to check out Chimera’s Comics and The Bookies for copies of Jake Carter and Christmas Terror Tales.

And of course, if you’ve had a chance to read any of the above tales, please share your review on Amazon and Goodreads.

Thanks for all your support! 🙂

The Writer’s Lounge: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/the-writers-lounge/2012/10/16/the-writers-lounge-presents-kevin-m-folliard
CTT & Jake Carter at Bookies in South Chicago: http://bookiespaperbacks.com/
CTT & Jake Carter at Chimera’s Comics in La Grange: http://www.chimerascomics.com/
Kevin M. Folliard’s Books on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kevin-Folliard/e/B0097S7T0A/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Kevin M. Folliard on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5266996.Kevin_M_Folliard

In this year's new Kindle exclusive Christmas Terror Tale, beware of elves underfoot.

Hey Everyone!

Thanks to all of you who have already checked out this year’s brand new Kindle exclusive CTT story: “Below!”

I’ve gotten a handful of questions about this tale, and I wanted to take a moment to address them. You will find everything you need to know about “Below” . . . below . . .

Is “Below” a separate story, or just a sample from the full Christmas Terror Tales book?

CTT: “Below” is a totally new story, not found in the original CTT (which contains 16 unique tales of its own).

Is “Below” available in paperback?

At this time, “Below” is only available through Kindle.

Will “Below” eventually become available in print?

Most likely, but not for a while. I would love to release another collection of scary Christmas stories, and “Below” would be included. However, I don’t want to rush that project. Quality scary Christmas stories don’t always come easy, so I’d rather wait until I have enough gems to make it worth your while. Until then, “Below” is a way to keep the holiday scares going strong. It’s also a great way for you to introduce people to my writing because I intend to make it FREE, as often as possible. More on that below. J

I don’t have a Kindle. How can I read this story?

If you don’t have a Kindle, don’t despair. Amazon provides FREE Kindle reading software. It’s called Kindle Cloud, and it allows people to read any Kindle books they want on their PCs, tablets, or mobile devices without needing to buy a Kindle. Here’s a link: https://read.amazon.com/

How long is “Below?” How does it compare to the stories in the original CTT?

Below is about 12,000 words. By some definitions this is a novella, and by others it’s a novelette. Either way, it’s a longer than average short story. The original CTT came to just under 18,000 words. At “Below’s” normal price of 0.99 cents, that’s more than half the content at a third the price of the Kindle version of CTT. Then again, you can also get it for FREE.

“Below” is FREE? How can I get it for FREE?

Well, technically it’s not always free. Amazon offers five days of FREE promotion every 90 days for Kindle exclusive books. As such, “Below” will be FREE for five days in October, five days in December, and so on. I’ll promote the free periods heavily on the blog and through Facebook. But the first opportunity to get “Below” for FREE will be October 15^th – 19^th. Don’t miss out. J

Will you ever release another FULL collection of scary stories?

Yes! In fact, my goal is to release a new Terror Tales product every year around the holidays! Depending on what I have on my plate, sometimes it will be a collection of many stories, and other times it will be a budget friendly Kindle exclusive gem like “Below.” Next year there will be another full collection. As we get closer to October of 2013, I’ll have more info. J

Below Press Release: http://www.kevinfolliard.com/blog/?p=379
Below on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Terror-Tales-Presents-ebook/dp/B0097DODEU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348713573&sr=1-1&keywords=Christmas+Below
CTT on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Terror-Tales-Stories-December/dp/1463786948/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347832498&sr=8-1&keywords=Christmas+Terror+Tales

Now Available for Kindle!

September 26, 2012 — Author Kevin M. Folliard’s new holiday scary story Christmas Terror Tales Presents: “Below” is now available through Amazon.com exclusively for the Kindle! This tale follows last year’s full collection of holiday horrors Christmas Terror Tales: Stories to Enjoy from October through December.

In “Below,” young ice fisherman Michael Riley discovers a pack of mysterious creatures in the frozen north. And while these elusive beings may look like elves, he quickly learns they’re anything but jolly. Soon Michael finds himself struggling against the elements, his monstrous tormentors, and the darkness they awaken within him.

“Below” provides a more robust tale than the concise stories found in the original Christmas Terror Tales collection, coming to roughly 12,000 words. Accompanied by bone-chilling illustrations by Chicago area artist J.T. Molloy, this story is a great read for horror fans twelve and up!

Below will typically retail for 0.99 cents through Amazon. However, it will be FREE during special promotional periods, the first of which will run from October 15^th – 19^th.

Preview pages for “Below” are available through Amazon’s “search inside” feature, and more information is available at www.kevinfolliard.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kevin M. Folliard is a Chicagoland fiction writer who has worked on the “Press Start” series of films and webcartoons. His published fiction includes the scary stories collection “Christmas Terror Tales” and the dark fantasy novel “Jake Carter & the Nightmare Gallery.”

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: J.T.Molloy is a Chicago are artist and post production editor. Recent works include promotional materials for Dark Maze Studios in Chamaign, IL as well as the action adventure graphic novel The Sapphire Spectre.

Below on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Terror-Tales-Presents-ebook/dp/B0097DODEU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1348713573&sr=1-1&keywords=Christmas+Below
CTT on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Terror-Tales-Stories-December/dp/1463786948/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347832498&sr=8-1&keywords=Christmas+Terror+Tales

Deliver some scares to your holiday book club meeting!

Greetings Readers!

If your book club is looking for a unique holiday offering this October through December, look no further! Over the past year, both Christmas Terror Tales and Jake Carter and the Nightmare Gallery have enjoyed a handful of excellent bookclub discussions.

As such, I decided to come up with some great book club discussion questions to help you kick start a gathering of your own! You’ll find printouts for both Jake Carter and CTT below. (But if you haven’t read either of these books yet, do beware of SPOILERS in the discussion questions!)

And of course, if your book club should choose to tackle one of my books, please let me know! I’d love to hear what everyone had to say! 🙂

• Christmas Terror Tales Book Club Discussion Questions: CTT_discussion_questions
• Jake Carter & the Nightmare Gallery Book Club Discussion Questions: JC_dicussion_questions

Both books are available through Amazon, as well as in paperback at select locations in the Chicagoland area. See the links below for more info.

CTT & Jake Carter at Bookies in South Chicago: http://bookiespaperbacks.com/
CTT & Jake Carter at Chimera’s Comics in La Grange: http://www.chimerascomics.com/
CTT on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Terror-Tales-Stories-December/dp/1463786948/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347832498&sr=8-1&keywords=Christmas+Terror+Tales
Jake Carter on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carter-Nightmare-Gallery-Kevin-Folliard/dp/1475006799/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_3
Jake Carter Press Release: http://www.kevinfolliard.com/blog/?p=283
CTT Press Release: http://www.kevinfolliard.com/blog/?p=170
Kevin M. Folliard on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/kmfollia
Kevin M. Folliard on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5266996.Kevin_M_Folliard

CTT Presents "Below" is now on Kindle for the 2012 Holiday Season!

Hey Scary Stories Fans!

Don’t tell anyone, but 2012’s brand new Kindle exclusive Christmas Terror Tale is out now.

A full press release for Christmas Terror Tales Presents: “Below” will be coming along October 1st, including info on two special promotional periods in which this story will be totally FREE.

In the meantime, if you’re the kind of person who likes peeking at Christmas presents, you can get “Below” for a mere 0.99 cents, and enjoy all the thrills and chills of the holiday season early. Or if you’re an Amazon Prime User, it’s always free!

Don’t forget that the original Christmas Terror Tales and my new dark fantasy novel Jake Carter and the Nightmare Gallery are also available in paperback and Kindle. Check ’em out, and don’t forget to leave a review. 🙂

“Below” on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Terror-Tales-Presents-ebook/dp/B0097DODEU/ref=la_B0097S7T0A_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347130067&sr=1-1
Christmas Terror Tales on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Terror-Tales-Stories-December/dp/1463786948/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347062800&sr=8-1&keywords=Christmas+terror+Tales
Jake Carter on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Carter-Nightmare-Gallery-Kevin-Folliard/dp/1475006799/ref=pd_sim_sbs_b_3
Kevin M. Folliard on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/kmfollia
Kevin M. Folliard on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5266996.Kevin_M_Folliard

Enjoy this sneak peek at JT Molloy’s illustration for the new Christmas Terror Tales story “Below!” Coming exclusively to Kindle this October!

What twisted reflection lurks beneath the frozen surface of Mirror Lake? Find out in Christmas Terror Tales Presents: "Below!"

The holiday season is on the horizon again! Please help spread the word about CTT!

Salutations Scary Stories Fans!

• Write an Amazon review for Christmas Terror Tales. Even a short, honest review of a few sentences that explains who you think will enjoy this book goes a long way.
• Amazon products also have a “like” button, as well as “tags” at the bottom of the page. Clicking these buttons under your Amazon account will improve recommendations and searches to help more people find CTT.
• If you have a Goodreads.com account, please also rate and post your review there. I also have a dedicated author page on Goodreads, so please friend me there as well. 🙂
• Like and share CTT on Facebook.