Take a peek inside:
Madison Cavendish and Sue SunMountain are not your typical detective duo. Like Mulder and Scully they investigate very unusual crimes, but they are not like Mulder and Scully. The blood that runs in Mulder and Scully’s veins is their own, while the same cannot be said of Cavendish and SunMountain.
If you like strange tales, weird happenings, and monsters of all sorts, you’ll love TERROR BY NIGHT.
Sunday afternoon! We’d love to see you there!
We at GRAVELIGHT PRESS are very thrilled to have been able to sit down with horror author Bernie Brown and discuss her latest collection. Horror fans… read on!
GRAVELIGHT PRESS (GP): Can you discuss some of the underlying themes or messages that you aim to convey through your stories?
BERNIE BROWN (BB): The theme I use most is reconciliation, but also revenge, greed, curiosity, and just plain old mystery.
GP: Do you think your life experiences and perspective influence the themes and characters in your horror tales?
BB: Yes, I grew up on a farm. At least a few stories have rural or small town settings. Also, I am a cockeyed optimist, so most of the stories have a satisfying ending. Not necessarily Happy Ever After, but resolution. Very few have any blood or gore. Writing about or reading about violence does not appeal to me.
GP: Many readers are drawn to horror for the adrenaline rush and the cathartic release it provides. What emotions or reactions do you hope your stories evoke in your readers?
BB: I do think my stories provide a catharsis for the characters, and the reader can share in that. I want my readers to be engaged by the story and the characters, that includes the ghost as a character.
GP: Crafting memorable characters is crucial in any genre, but perhaps even more so in horror, where readers must empathize or fear for their safety. How do you go about creating characters that readers can connect with or fear for in your stories?
BB: My characters are ordinary people in ordinary settings, just like most readers are. Much of the “haunting” takes place in broad daylight. There is not the cliché of darkness equals fear.
GP: The horror genre has evolved significantly over the years. How do you see your work contributing to the ongoing evolution of horror literature, especially in the context of contemporary themes and societal anxieties?
BB: I think my work lacks much of the expected cliches of horror writing: violence, blood, gore, death (although a few feature death), and it provides that creepy otherworldly suspense we all like in our horror. I hope I’m bringing a fresh story to my readers.
GP: What advice would you give to aspiring writers who are interested in exploring the horror genre or writing short stories?
BB: I would advise simplicity: only a few characters, a plot that takes place in only one setting, make the motivation clear, and keep the time frame short – – maybe just one afternoon. I do break my own rules, but these are good guidelines to start with.
GP: You have another book published. What is it called, and what is it about?
BB: My other book is a novel in the women’s fiction genre. It is called I NEVER TOLD YOU. It’s about a mother and daughter who hide their true selves from each other for fear of losing each other’s love.
GP: That also sounds suspenseful. Those relationships are tougher than ghosts, LOL. Finally, what’s next for you creatively? Do you have any projects in mind, and can you give us a hint about what readers can expect from your writing in the future?
BB: I have a short humorous novel and a novella that I am trying to place in a print journal. I want to try that type of publication. Publication in a journal is just for subscribers and I like that.
We at GRAVELIGHT PRESS are very thrilled to have been able to sit down with horror author Bernie Brown and discuss her latest collection. Horror fans… read on!
Gravelight Press (GP): Your collection of horror short stories, THE HOLY GHOST AND OTHER SPOOKY STORES offers readers a glimpse into the darker corners of the human psyche. What drew you to the horror genre, and how do you approach crafting chilling tales that resonate with readers?
Bernie Brown (BB): What first inspired me to write ghost stories was when we stayed in a Bed and Breakfast in Savannah, and as part of the usual B & B “stuff,” there was a casket in the hallway.
Usually a setting will inspire me to write a story about it. It makes me think what kind of ghost would haunt it, and what kind of person that ghost was when it was alive. What kind of person does the ghost haunt and why? Why can’t the ghost move on?
GP: Short stories require a unique skill in creating tension and delivering scares within a limited space. How do you manage to build suspense and evoke fear effectively in your shorter narratives?
BB: I began my writing life by writing short stories. I got a handle on what short story structure worked for me. Then I just adapted that structure to ghost stories. What does the ghost want? Then I work through a couple of scenarios where the ghost is attempting to get what it wants. In the end it either gets it or doesn’t. The suspense is built into the scenarios.
COME BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE CONCLUSION.
And in the meantime:
Have you experienced the quick hit of magic that is a Bernie Brown story?
We are excited to extend an invitation to you for the inaugural Current Words One-And-Done Session—an exclusive opportunity designed for fiction and memoir writers to refine their skills within a supportive setting, and the best part is, it’s entirely free!
Hosted online by DPP founders Dianne Pearce and David Yurkovich, this session is scheduled for 9-11 AM Pacific time on select Saturdays. To ensure an intimate learning environment, each meeting is limited to five participants. This is your chance to engage with seasoned professional editors at no cost.
Registration: To secure your spot, submit a portion of your writing (between 450-550 words) for live discussion. Please email your selection to workshops@currentwords.com by January 20, 2024, to be considered for the February 3rd workshop. Include your full name, city, state, and the type of work you are developing (short stories, long-form fiction, memoir) in your application. Enrollment is on a first-come, first-served basis due to limited space. Upon confirmation of your enrollment, you will receive an email containing further instructions and the meeting URL. Participants must be willing to join a Zoom call and have their work constructively discussed in a small-group setting. Please commit to attending if you sign up, as there are very limited spaces available.
In case you do not secure a spot in the first meeting, we will provide information about our March date. We plan to select five new participants each month as long as there is interest. We eagerly anticipate sharing this enriching experience with you, learning more about you and your writing, and connecting with our fellow authors.
There is NO charge to participate. We so look forward to reading your writing!
Looking for a terrifying horror read to get you through the weekend?
Check out the DRUMMING FOR THE DEAD series by Gabby Gilliam!
CHECK OUT SOME OF THESE REVIEWS:
Just like vampires cannot live without blood and a place to lay-low during the day, authors cannot live without reviews on Amazon. So read the books and give Gabby those five stars you know she deserves!
You can get both books in the series right now for less than the price of a Starbucks, or a McDonald’s anything, and have great horror for your whole weekend. It’s too freaking hot to go out anyway. Stay inside and read something scary!
Leave Gabby a review, and I’ll send you a PDF of the Gravelight book of your choice!
A hot weekend full of zombies. In the words of Walter Sobchak, “If you will it, it is no dream.”
Get your copy today!
Apparently it’s not a what, but a WHO: David Fulcher!
Have you read any of David’s work?
In addition to running and publishing Samsara magazine, David also publishes short stories and poems!
You can check out these for free, by clicking on the photo:
And how about some David video?
Or listen to a tale of terror, if you dare!
Hockey fans, I believe David is a goalie. Impressive! And give up any thoughts of scoring…. 😉
Kindle Vella (or KV, or Vella) is a new service from Amazon that allows anyone to go online and start reading a book IMMEDIATELY! The books are all serialized. They may release one chapter per week, or even a chapter daily. The first three chapters/episodes of any book are free.
For now, Vella is only available to reader in the USA, while Amazon tries out this pilot program. DPP is in on it, and we are even beta-testers for the comments and polls functions. So, some of our stories have comments, and some have polls, and some have both.
All series (books) being serialized have the first three episodes as free.
For episodes after that, you have to buy them.
You buy them by buying tokens. Most chapters/episodes average out at about six cents/episode.
You cannot currently give tokens as gifts, or buy tokens with gift cards, and you cannot buy someone a Vella story to read, like, “I’ll get this for my friend!” Nope, not now you won’t. But maybe in the future!
And hopefully in the future more countries will be able to get it too.
DPP’s jury is still out on this one. We’re trying it, and we like how we can put in notes for our readers, and get comments back. As authors it is nice to have connection with readers, because otherwise we never do, and we want to know what readers think. But, it so restricted at the moment with the USA-only tie that we’re not sure how we feel about it. Certainly since we have worked to edit people to are writing their entire novels on their phones, it is appealing to those of us who love our small hand-held devices.
ONE BENEFIT: the reviews a book gets there go with it when it goes into paperback.
We’d love to have some folks try out our Vellas and then take a survey on the experience so we can find out what readers think.
Contact us if you want to join in the fun and give us your honest feedback: editor@devilspartypress.com
What do we have on Vella currently?
GRAVELIGHT PRESS PRESENTS:
Written by master story tell R. David Fulcher
When Patsy finds her friend and client has passed away in her living room, Patsy’s only thought is how to take care of her friend’s dog and estate, but someone in her friend’s life has other ideas. Can Patsy, still grieving the loss of her friend, help save her friend’s estate?
Written by Amy Willard, a real-life housecleaner!
Those fantastic Vella titles will soon be joined by:
Noir collection: HARDBOILED And LOADED WITH SIN
Check this blog for links and announcements.
Thanks for all you do to help DPP keep-on keeping-on. We’re getting more late-bloomers published this year than ever before because you read our books!
Well, a mother never has favorites, but readers do. So far, in the number one spot for readers is NEW SANTA. I guess folks just love Christmas! (Or hate it!)
When you read a DPP book, it means everything!
Jeffrey is curating this years’ HALLOWEEN PARTY, so check him out! Find out what this guy is all about.
And sign up (at the bottom of his site) to find out about freebies and specials related to Halloween Party!
GRAVELIGHT PRESS 