Avernus is here to remind you that Bringing in the Creeps, by Ray Van Horn, Jr. is coming out this Friday, June 20th, from Anuci Press.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

My next major horror project is already cooking inside my head, but this one’s going to take a good bit of development and research before I do actual writing. When you have such a daunting task, you start with the Bloody Best.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

@rvanhornjr

♬ Danger – SoundAudio

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

You may have remembered this ghoul haunting my promotions for Behind the Shadows. Well, he’s back and you will be seeing a lot more of him. While he waits for my new horror collection, Bringing in the Creeps to be released next month on June 20th by Anuci Press, he’s revisiting a 43-year-old classic of Fango mag.

He needs a name, don’tcha think? What do you guys have out there to call my vampire ghoul? My creep, if you will?

PM me your suggestions and whomever comes up with the winning moniker will receive a free copy of Bringing in the Creeps when it drops. Also, you will be featured as a guest character by name in my next project.

I will announce the winner a week from now after Memorial weekend.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

One of the stories you’ll be in store with in Bringing in the Creeps is titled “Meteor Shit.” Stemmed from difficult times I went through in 6th and 7th grade, it’s a gory period piece focusing on a tormented tween circa 1982 whose nasty revenge is bestowed him from the stars. You would be correct in assuming this tale is a loving tribute to Stephen King’s “The Lonesome Death of Jordy Verill” from the original Creepshow, doing my own thing entirely. It also comes from John Carpenter’s masterpiece of sci-fi terror, his ’82 remake of The Thing. At the time, I had been grounded for poor grades and attitude, most of my rut coming from a long period of bullying. My time of redemption came when enough was enough when I trashed five boys for saying something derogatory about my mom.

My extensive grounding back then was having everything removed of me except for my schoolwork and fun reading material. No t.v., no Atari, no going outside. Today’s generation would never be able to cope. When Carpenter’s version of The Thing hit HBO 1982 going into ’83, my folks knew it what it would mean to me. After screening it, they gave me a one-night reprieve to come down and watch it. All that gore and frozen terror blew my living mind, and it changed my course as a kid entirely. “Meteor Shit” is just as much for you, Mr. Carpenter as you, Mr. King.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.

Awww, yeah, full pager ad for Behind the Shadows in Scream magazine Issue 90!

Let’s gooooooo!

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.