Hidee hey, readers! I’ve been writing my fool head off lately, finishing one new project that will be announced later, and I am driving to the finish line on a new novel, which accounts for my lack of productivity here at Roads Lesser Traveled.
New material will be forthcoming here on the blog, but in the meantime, check out this rad advertisement for my current horror collection, Behind the Shadows, credit to my buddy, Mia Dalia. Now available from Raw Earth Ink at Amazon, Barnes and Noble.com, Lulu and digitally at Kindle, Nook and Kobo.
As always, thanks for your support of my writing and of this blog.
Finished a horror story over the weekend where I reflected on the time my folks let me watch this grisly masterpiece, one of the greatest remakes ever attempted. Age 12, in a violent rut being tormented by my peers. Already a deep horror fan at such a young age. They previewed it first and let me have at it, knowing instinctively what therapy this film would provide me then.
And this still isn’t vintage enough, but the point’s made plenty hard. Mall record stores and megashops were horrendously overpriced even by today’s inflated economical standards, but there wasn’t a single time I didn’t not pop into one of these on a mall outing. For all of you indie record shops still hanging out there, I love you. Keep the faith.
One of my Christmas scores was a signed, sold-out limited edition of W.H. Chizmar’s (son of Richard) debut novel, Them. Not a story about 1950s Atomic-era giant ants, but in the neighborhood. Not an evil ghost-witch concept album by King Diamond. It initially felt like The Last of Us and A Quiet Place post apocalypse story which about-faces its dramatic and occasionally amusing and sentimental quest for survival into a bombastic War of the Worlds epic. Existentialism is under fire between human and our alien usurpers Chizmar calls “Scorpions,” with a long unnamed protagonist leading us through turf where you sometimes question which side you are rooting for.
Billy Chizmar has written a first-time novel that sucks your oxygen from his detailed, tumbling prose that rings of a long-standing pro writer. Them is so damn good you won’t believe this is a relatively new voice to horror fiction. In the couple of short interactions I’ve had with Billy, I found his confident smile and glowing support of his dad in the public to be indicative of a writer who already knows his future. After reading Them and Billy’s novella, Mr. Purple, this dude has the chops. Welcome to the fold, young man.
What a week prior for Behind the Shadows! Booking two upcoming signings and then this wonderful 4.5 out of 5 star review from Amie Destefano from the elite genre hub, Horror Tree.
Amie says “There are truly grody monsters here, which you recognize. Some made, some birthed and a number who have made mistakes. Van Horn, Jr.’s prose is active and effortless. The story details are ultra-specific, allowing each character to carry his/her own authority. There’s no choice but to believe them. Completely wrapped up in the scenes, I heard, saw, felt, tasted and touched the environment created.”
Then comes this incredible 9/10 review of Behind the Shadows from Brendan Fisher at Games, Brrraaains & Headbanging Life!
Brendan glows, “An anthology that delivers 10 clever stories with plenty of attitude, plenty of scares and characters we can believe and buy in to. Reel them in (the readers), make them care and then break their hearts – that makes for great reading. Behind the Shadows is a wonderful read that will scare a lot, emotionally touch you at times and always make you think. It just wouldn’t be possible to be a fan of horror and not find something in Behind the Shadows for you.”
Roads Lesser Traveled 