Halloween

Witch wearing a hat reading magical, glowing book

To celebrate the spooky season, I’ve put The Bones of the Earth on sale. If you haven’t read it, here’s your last chance to get this edition. A Month of Halloween Books! Whether you love mysteries, horror, fantasy or other genres, there’s something for everyone! Some Free, some 99c, some in Kindle Unlimited…Check back often […]

Why Hallowe’en? Because we love to see fear in the mirror

COVID. War. Totalitarianism. Pandemic. Climate change. Terrorism. Nuclear war. Judging from hyperbole in social media, we are out-and-out terrified of these things. Just consider the rhetoric around the use of “tactical” nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Will he? Won’t he? Should we? The job of writers of fantasy and speculative fiction is to reflect our audience’s fears back […]

The Vampire Machine

Here’s a little treat for your Haunting Season enjoyment, reprised from a few years back. The power went out with drawn-out squeaks from every electronic device in the house. Rodney noticed the full moon shining through the window. “Glad I didn’t close the blinds earlier,” he muttered. Then he swore as the soapy plate slipped […]

Frightful Friday: The Vampire machine

This #spooktober, I’m re-publishing some light, Hallowe’en-related stories. This one first appeared on another blog some years ago, and I present it again here for your spooky pleasure. Let me know in the Comments whether you liked it. The power went out with drawn-out squeaks from every electronic device in the house. Rodney noticed the […]

Why Hallowe'en? Because we love to see fear in the mirror

  Ebola. Totalitarianism. Pandemic. Mass migration. Climate change. Terrorism. Judging from hyperbole in social media, we are out-and-out terrified of these things. Even to the extent of people getting angry at climate activists for “spreading fear.” We’re afraid of fear, like Franklin Roosevelt said. And yet, at this time of year, we choose to scare ourselves […]