The Unholy Trinity

A message from Charlie Morgan.

It has been one hell of a year on my end of things. It began with facing a fear that damn near broke me, I won't lie. I needed to take time away from everything so I could deal with the aftermath of it all (still am).

In that time I had three notebooks that I began writing in. There were some musings, doodles, poems and little pieces of flash fiction. Then I began to "visit some old ghosts," so to speak. Once I did, they began talking and the stories started coming. There were three that stood head and shoulders above the rest. I started calling them my "unholy trinity." These three broke me down and built me back up a little stronger than before.

There were also those who have been there from the beginning and have sailed with me into the storm. For that I am eternally grateful. You know who you are.

In the coming months, Back Road Books will be releasing this unholy trinity. They may break you down, they might build you back up, but make no mistake, they do have teeth and will bite.

The three books are not a trilogy. Every book is different but they are all connected in some way. An Unholy Trinity would be a better term.

One is the horrors of youth - The Overnight

The horrors of adolescence - Nomads

And horrors of adulthood - Tribe

Check out the teaser trailers for the first book in the Trinity, The Overnight. If, like me, you grew up watching summer camp slasher flicks and loved every second of it, then this might be for you.

Finding Charlie

I recently made my television debut. Having said that, I feel like this next bit needs to be said to clear things up, because I know a couple of people might be thinking somewhere waaaay out in left field. No, I was NOT on an episode of COPS.

For everyone else, the show that I blessed with my ugly mug probably won't be a huge shock. Afterall, if you've read my books, you're aware of this particular obsession.

My happy ass was featured in Animal Planet's Finding BIgfoot!

Here's a couple of screenshots from the episode that I was on. It was filmed in Asheville, North Carolina in February of 2016.

The episode is called "The Family That Squatches Together"

Click HERE to watch now.

I got to meet and speak with the cast (including Monkey who was hanging out with me, discussing life's major issues like fleas and losing your ball - take that last one however you like). Everyone was very nice and sociable. 

Upon arriving at the location that served as the Town Hall, I was chatting with as many people as I could and was able to meet some great folks, hear some really cool stories, see a few pictures and even take a gander at some plaster casts.

It was an incredible night and I was glad to have been fortunate enough to have the experience and make some new contacts. 

The BFRO will occasionally open expeditions to the public. That's my next goal. I've been on many trips into the woods in search of these creatures, but it would be nice to go with the BFRO just to learn some new tricks and hit some new locations. Who knows...perhaps we'll see each other on one of the future outings.

- From Cryptomundo.com - > Finding Bigfoot: The Family That Squatches Together Premieres tonight, January 8 @ 8:01 PM CST on Animal Planet

Also airs:

Sunday, January 8 @ 11:07 PM
Monday, January 9 @ 3:00 AM

With the help of family and friends, the team is investigating sightings along the Appalachian Trail. With a possible squatch in their midst, the group descends on a location along the trail, hoping for a squatchy night in the wilds of the Appalachia.

Hospital Blues

Howdy, folks.

It's been a little while since I've posted anything. Sorry about that. Things have been about 67 different flavors of chaotic insanity. Everything began back in October when my dad was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer. We ended up taking him to the hospital this past Friday because he was incredibly weak and in lots of pain. The doctor told me that if we hadn't got him to the ER, he wouldn't have made it to February.

Long story short - the tumor in his brain had grown and developed some swelling that was causing quite a few problems. He was transferred to Mission Hospital in Asheville (they have been amazing. If you ever get sick, come here). The surgery went smoothly and it looks like they got everything from his brain. After one night in ICU, he's back in a regular room and doing fine. He'll be here for a few more days, but any and all improvement is welcome.

I just want to take a second to thank a few people for all they've done since this began.

Heather Kiger
David Edney
Renee Torres
Wilma Gilbert
James Jobling
Tracy Moore
The staff of Mission Hospital
All of you who have sent well wishes on Facebook and anyone else that I might've forgotten. It means a lot and we love you all.

Thank you.
- Charlie

He Creeps Out Around Dusk...

"I doubt you'll find a lonelier, spookier place than down around Boggy Creek." So says Vern Stierman in his haunting narration in The Legend of Boggy Creek (1972). Anyone who has ever viewed the film can certainly see the logic in that statement.

If you've been following this blog for a while, you know that my love for this film has been expressed on numerous occasions. It sparked my interest in cryptozoology and filmmaking. The desire to make short films eventually evolved into writing short fiction. I've always wanted to write a tribute piece to pay homage to the film and I did just that in October of 2013.

A Cold Night In Fouke quickly became a reader favorite and set some personal records. It was my first young adult story, it was my most - and best - reviewed work and my biggest seller to date. Whatever it was that I did with this story had obviously struck readers and I couldn't be happier with the response.

The story ended with a question mark. Was that really the end? I've been asking myself that question for the past three years. Was that all I had to say about the legendary Fouke Monster?

Nope.

Halloween In Fouke picks up just a few days after the events of the first story with two boys who have heard about Emmett's encounter. Curiosity drives them deep into the swamp to seek out answers. Like the original, there will be plenty of atmosphere and suspense. The focus will be on that growing sense of dread and pure horror. You'll also find some historical facts about the creature and I'll be throwing in as much reality as I possibly can.

Keep your eyes on this site for updates.

Hello, Darkness, you old son of a motherless goat...

Hey, guys.

It's been quiet around here for a little bit. Lots going on... nothing good, I'm afraid. If you're on my Facebook page, odds are good that you've already heard the news. If not, I'll go ahead and lay it out here.

A few weeks ago, my dad took a fall and got scratched up and cracked a rib for his trouble. He went to the hospital, got x rays and all that fun stuff. Then there was a discovery (a pretty shitty one, I might add). Something else showed up in the x ray... in his left lung. As it turns out, it is lung cancer. After visiting a specialist, they also determined that there is another tumor in his brain.

That's the bad news.

The good news in this big ol' shit sandwich is that both are small and can be easily removed. Hearing that didn't stop the worry, but it did ease it off.

Naturally he feels like hell, but we have a plan of attack and are just taking things one step at a time.

Thus my absence on damn near everything.

For those of you who've sent well wishes and shown support in some way, we both thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

I'll be in touch and update when I'm able to do so. Until then, my friends.

Sticks And Stones 2 - Sample

With the long awaited release of Cut And Run: Sticks And Stones Part 2 just ahead, I thought that I would give you guys a sample to whet your appetite.

Coming soon from Back Road Books!

Copyright ©2016 by Charlie Morgan

When we walk among the burning dreams...

Blackberry Winter was in full swing when Jake and his hunting partner, Gary, hit the woods on the southern end of the Lowe Road. This last stretch of woods was all that was left to explore on a weeklong excursion.

Jake was tall, muscular and worked as a court clerk during the week. In his free time, he was completely absorbed in his hobby. In his youth he had been introduced to a film that would change his life. The Legend of Boggy Creek was a drive-in era, cult classic. It told the true story of a giant, hair-covered creature that terrorised a small Arkansas town. His interest quickly grew into obsession as he read all the books, articles and reports that he could get his hands on. In his teenage years, he would hit the woods when school was out, hoping to find some sign that hinted of a creature passing through.

Gary was tall, skinny and drove a cement truck during the week. He'd met Jake through a mutual friend several years back. Seeing that both of them shared interests in Bigfoot and Cryptozoology, a friendship quickly grew that eventually led to outings to look into any local reports. When the incidents of the Lowe Road  finally broke after the attack on a logging crew, Gary was in shock to see such a significant event happening so close to home.

Both men had planned the weeklong vacation into the mountains, camping and seeking whatever evidence they could lay their hands on.

So far, the trip had been a complete bust. The only thing they'd found was a big, steaming pile of shit that turned out to have been manufactured by a black bear that they saw just forty yards ahead of them.

They passed the site of the Laymon Logging Company incident and came up empty. Most of the forest floor was covered in branches and fallen trees. The clear spots had been riddled with tracks of the logging crew, paramedics, police, etc. If there ever were any tracks made by the creatures, they'd long been destroyed.
Gary froze in front of a large fallen pine. There were dark, rust-colored stains along the bark. His stomach began to churn as he tried to picture what had happened. I wonder if this is where one of those men was killed?

The local newspapers had gone wild when one of the injured men told what had really happened. The original story, told to the press by Laymon, had been that the men had been attacked by a bear who had a cub nearby.  Speculation began when analysis of the bite marks and other injuries pointed toward another, unknown, culprit.

When the injured man awoke after surgery, the story he'd told had been much more bizarre. He'd said that a dozen, or so, hair-covered things sprang from the forest. They ran on two legs and were gigantic and fast. The first man had fallen before he had time to react. The creature swiped at his head, snapping his neck with one thunderous blow. The other creatures charged at the loggers like the gates of hell had opened; spitting forth it's berserker warriors.

One of the men had managed to bury an ax into the chest of his attacker. The creature, enraged by pain, shot forward and sank it's teeth into the man's skull, shattering bone with ungodly strength.
From atop the hill, RJ Laymon raced to his truck and grabbed the .38 Special that he kept in the glovebox. He returned to scene and began firing at the attackers. Several fled at once after the first shots rang out. The rest soon followed as shots continued to strike around them. The whole event lasted almost two minutes, but to those who were there, it seemed like hours.

In the end, two men were dead and eight were severely injured. No bodies of the creatures had been recovered.

When The Rain Comes For Me

Its been a while since I've posted a poem. This is the most recent that I've written. I recently found it among my files and believe it was written in October of 2015.
Enjoy.

©2015 - Charlie Morgan

A raven whispers through cloudy skies.
Loved ones gather with forgotten ghosts.
They gaze upon my weary eyes.

Take me down where the willows weep.
Where the swans can sing for me.
Lay me down and bury me deep.
When the rain comes for me.

A shadow lingers beyond the pain.
Thunder shatters a tempered heart.
Soon the tears will fall like rain.

Take me down where the roses sleep.
Where memories are all that be.
Don't forget when the rain comes for me.

A  spectre whispers "the time has come."
Please don't let me fade away.
Greet the mourning and succumb.

Take me down where the widow weeps.
Where the songs can play for two.
I'll be waiting
When the rain comes for you.

The Path To Inspiration

With my new novella, STICKS AND STONES Part II, in the editing stage, I've taken a few days off to relax and let my mind rest up. This has resulted in me turning to YouTube to look up... damn near anything (the next time you're on there, be sure to check out CoverKillerNation and AlphaOmegaSin's channels. They're my typical haunts).

While prowling around, I came across a video that was of a playable demo for Resident Evil VII: Biohazard (via AlphaOmegaSin. I normally hate commentary on such videos, but his is hilariously entertaining and worth watching just to witness his assault of a mannequin). The game looks incredibly realistic and creepy as all hell! I'd definitely say to check it out, if you're a gamer.

After this, I found a video for a demo of the ill-fated Silent Hills. I never had the chance to try it out and wanted to see what the world was denied. Here's my review of that... THAT WAS INCREDIBLY FUCKIN' CREEPY! WHOEVER THE DIMWITTED SHIT PICKLE WAS THAT SCREWED THE POOCH ON THAT DEAL NEEDS TO SPEND AN HOUR IN A LOCKED ROOM WITH PYRAMID HEAD!

*ahem* If you haven't gave it a peek, you should. Just be sure to have clean underwear handy.

This foray into YouTube proved to be rather inspiring. The wheels began to turn and the muse woke up to slap an idea on me. Feeling charged with curiosity, I turned to Google and began hunting down all things creepy. By the end of the night, I had enough notes to convince me to go forward.

What all of this amounted to was the basis for a psychological horror short story, tentatively titled Room 8. I'm not sure if it'll be submitted to an anthology or become a Kindle exclusive, but you will be seeing it in the near future. Details will be announced here and on my Facebook page.

So, on that note, "Nerds, Nerdettes and Readers, read the fuck on!

SNOWBLIND by Michael McBride

I had the immense pleasure of reading one of the first books in ages to unnerve me more than a little.

Anyone who knows me, knows that one of my favorite subjects is Cryptozoology - specifically Bigfoot. I've written my share on the subject (with more to come) and it never fails to grab my attention when I find a new book.

Enter Michael McBride.

I purchased Snowblind, and it's sequel, several months back. Working my way through my "to read" pile, I finally got to this gem. Ladies and germs, I have to admit that I was utterly floored by this book! It is CREEPY AS ALL HELL and an absolute MUST for anyone interested in Bigfoot.

Michael McBride has firmly announced himself as a tremendous voice in horror fiction and that voice howls like a monster on the hunt.

Buy this book! I can't possibly stress that enough. If you read this blog, chances are good that you like sasquatch tales. You will LOVE Snowblind!

Trust me, folks, this guy knows what he's doing and isn't afraid to dig his teeth into the raw meat. This is easily the best fictional Bigfoot tale since Eric S. Brown's original Bigfoot War.

...and there is a sequel.

Click HERE to get your copy.

A Secret is Revealed

This announcement has been a long time coming. Its been around five years since the release of Sticks And Stones and, since that day, people began asking for a sequel. One was promised and has since been in limbo.

There were many ideas as to where to take the series. Some remained, many were tossed to the four winds and banished.

The current incarnation began during a sleepless night and the thought of fuck it. Let's give it another go. Before I knew it, I had written nearly three thousand words and the sun was creeping up the horizon. Since then, I locked myself away, determined not to say one word to anyone  until it was finished.

Fifteen days later, the once cursed project's first draft is now complete. I've waited many years to say those words. This sequel binds every installment thus far. Those who have read Just In Sight, The Wilds and Here Be Devils will notice some familiar territory. There's plenty of new faces, surprises and nastiness awaiting. The original Sticks And Stones has been a reader favorite from day one. I hope this sequel lives up to your expectations.

Editing will begin in the coming days and I'm hoping to have a final draft ready for a release around Independence Day of this year.

This book is for all of you that have been asking for it. It wouldn't have happened without you.

THE FIRST DRAFT OF BEFORE THE DAWN: STICKS AND STONES PART II IS FINALLY FINISHED!

In the past, I've posted my playlists for certain projects to serve as a sort of unofficial soundtrack. So, here was my background during these sessions.

Lulabox - Ride On
Silent Scream - Mary Elizabeth McGlynn
Deus In Absentia - Ghost
We Will Rise - Arch Enemy
Don't Open Til' Doomsday - The Misfits
Extinct - Moonspell
7 Devils - The Goddamn Gallows
Party Time - 45 Grave
Shallow Grave - A Pale Horse Named Death
Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride) - Don Felder
Haunted - Poe
The Hearse Song - The Marshmallow Ghosts

New Formats Available

Break out your favorite eReader. My latest book, BIGFOOT: A GUIDE TO THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD is now available in several new editions. Follow the links below to grab your copy!

Throughout the world people have reported seeing giant, humanoid creatures. The scientific community refuses to accept the existence of these creatures, despite the growing amount of evidence.

Within this book, you'll learn the basics of Bigfoot research to help you get started in the field of cryptozoology.

Casting prints - gathering evidence - history - actual reports and much more.

Kindle

Paperback

Nook

Kobo

iBooks

Page Foundry

Scribd

Paperback Available Now

Bigfoot: A Guide To The Beasts Of The Field is now available in paperback.

Click HERE to get your copy now!

New Bigfoot Book Arrives on Kindle

This has been a long time coming. Way back, in December of 2013, I began working on my first nonfiction book - Bigfoot: A Guide To The Beasts Of The Field. The idea of writing this book, however, has been floating around in my head for many years.

During the course of writing it, I got the chance to explore some cool places, revisit some old tales from my youth, personal experiences and, above all, I got to meet some really awesome people (including the cast of Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot - all awesome folks, especially Bobo's dog Monkey).

This book is also my first release through my new publisher, Back Road Books. Jeremy Peterson (happy birthday, by the way) and James Jobling have been a blast to work with. Their tireless efforts in getting this book out cannot be understated.

I also had the opportunity to work with longtime friend, and fellow cryptid fanatic, Eric S. Brown. He did an amazing job writing the Foreword and I hope to be able to work with him again in the future.

Finally, I received a message that got me a wee bit excited. I was contacted by a local teacher who is working with some homeschooled students. He proceeded to tell me that part of a particular class had a "cryptozoology component." After voicing my jealousy (wish that component was there when I was in school), we talked for a while and I offered to help in any way I could, including sending him a copy of the book to share with the class. I never thought I would ever write something to be presented to a class in an academic setting. Needless to say, it's very cool and I'm very proud.

So, without further delay, you can grab the Kindle edition by clicking HERE. Paperbacks and other formats should be along soon.

Also, in doing all of this, I forgot to do the next chapter in the free serial, My Best Fiend. That will be going up as soon as possible.

Cover Art Reveal and a Freebie

Coming soon to an eerie forest bookshelf near you!

My first ever nonfiction book BIGFOOT: A GUIDE TO THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD will, at long last, be seeing publication! It has been a long road with lots of ups, downs, twists and turns. It also marks another new chapter in my writing. It will be my first release by my new publisher Back Road Books. Hopefully there will be many more to come (we are already throwing ideas around for possible future projects). It's an exciting time here at eBookNightmare and I couldn't be happier.

Keep watching this space for future announcements on this and other titles.

Oh, one more thing. I also have started work on a free serial book called MY BEST FIEND. New chapters are posted every Friday. The first is up right now! Click HERE to start reading it now and don't forget to hit "subscribe by email" on the right side of the screen.

See you later!

Lizardman by Lyle Blackburn - Book Review

LIZARDMAN: THE TRUE STORY OF THE BISHOPVILLE MONSTER by Lyle Blackburn

Click HERE to get your copy

I first became aware of Lyle Blackburn a few years ago through his horror/country/punk band Ghoultown. The music had made me an instant fan and I've been jamming out to the likes of Under The Phantom Moon, Carry The Coffin and Werewolves on Wheels (if you haven't, be sure to check out the movie that this song is based on. Pure drive-in, B-movie gold!).

It was a couple of years ago when I discovered that Lyle shared another interest with me. It turns out that Lyle is a well-known and well-respected cryptozoologist! When I heard he was writing a book about the famous Fouke Monster of southern Arkansas, I just had to get my hands on a copy as fast as I possibly could.

The Beast of Boggy Creek: The True Story of the Fouke Monster is an exceptional book. Its well written and painstakingly researched. No stone was left unturned. In my opinion, The Beast of Boggy Creek is required reading for those interested in the field of cryptozoology. I was thoroughly impressed and couldn't wait for his next book. Luckily the wait wasn't long!

If you live near the state of South Carolina, chances are you've probably heard of The Lizardman of Scape Ore Swamp. Its said to be a creature that roams throughout the area and leaves large, three-toed, footprints and has terrorised quite a few people over the years.

Being a North Carolina native, I've heard the legends many times. I've never really been sure what to think and have been a little skeptical of the creature. Being a massive fan of his previous book, and keeping an open mind, I decided to grab a copy. I'm glad I did.

Like The Beast of Boggy Creek, Lizardman is a well written biography, of sorts, that digs into the history, cultural impact and legacy of this bizarre creature. Lyle's research is as thorough and entertaining as it gets. He delivered another home run and presents the reader some theories that show that there could very well be something lurking through Scape Ore Swamp. My skepticism had waned by the end of the book.

Again, Lyle proves himself to be one hell of an author and cryptozoologist. Lizardman is a must for those interested in cryptozoology. Buy it. You won't regret it, I assure you.

Click HERE to get your copy

Some Interesting Changes

Howdy, folks.

There's a few things coming up on the horizon that have me incredibly excited and, at last, I'm able to share it with you.

Let's start at the beginning.

First up in the news, I have a new publisher. I have officially joined the ranks of James Jobling (author of National Emergency) and Jeremy Peterson (author of A Devil In God's Country) at Back Road Books. This has resulted in them picking up my upcoming book, Bigfoot: A Guide To The Beasts Of The Field, which will be published later this year.

Next up, Back Road Books not only deals with the written word, but also (wait for it......) film production. Back Road will be filming a documentary that is slated to begin production in 2017 or 2018. The film will tie into my Bigfoot field guide and will focus on, what many believe to be, one of the single greatest pieces of Bigfoot evidence ever - the Patterson/Gimlin film. It will be filmed in and around Willow Creek, California. I'm giddy to announce that I will be going along to take part in this project. This has been on my bucket list for as long as I can remember and I'm above and beyond honored to be going. Truth be told, I'm happy as hell!

Finally, I have began working on a new, fictional, novella that is a bit of a tribute piece to the late, great, Richard Laymon entitled The Atavist. The story will follow a family on a camping trip that runs afoul a group of maniacal survivalists. Its my nastiest, most graphic, story to date.

More news on all of these will be along just as soon as it becomes available.

Take care.

Field Guide - Update

Howdy, folks.

Its been a long time, hasn't it? As some of you know, there's been quite a bit going on around the Morgan household for the past couple of years. My dad and I had taken on the roles of caregivers for my dad's uncle, who had terminal cancer. During that time, any and all projects that I had been working on were put on hold. It was a long, dark, couple of years. On December 9, 2015, the uncle passed away. At 80 years old, he had lived a full life and was at peace with his passing.

JOSEPH SPURGEON MORGAN

October 23, 1935 - December 9, 2015

A NEW BOOK IS ON THE WAY

A couple of years ago, I made the announcement that I was working on my first ever nonfiction book - Bigfoot: A Guide To The Beasts of the Field. Ever since I first broke the news, it seems that the project was cursed to remain in limbo due to various issues. I'm happy to report that the curse has (hopefully) been broken and the finish line is within sight. 

The book is a field guide for those who wish to learn more about Bigfoot research. Its for all ages and has some historical accounts (including one by a future President of the United States) as well as a few that I have investigated personally. One such investigation took me to one of the spookiest places I have ever been in my life! I'm beyond excited about this one and can't wait to see what you guys think. My good friend, and fellow Bigfoot junkie, Eric S. Brown is writing the foreword. There will also be a little surprise tucked away in the back.

In the days leading up to the release, I will be bringing back the "Bigfoot Week" posts and may even try to have some guest bloggers come on board for some of them. 

I will also be posting some extras that'll be exclusive to this project. I have one investigation left to do and am planning on doing some videos to go along with all of this. Exciting times are on the horizon!

There is no official release date as of right now, however, I am shooting for sometime in February or March 2016.

BIGFOOT: A GUIDE TO THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD - Synopsis

SOMETHING IS OUT THERE!

It is one of the greatest mysteries that the world has ever known. For centuries, people have reported seeing giant, manlike, creatures roaming through the dense forests. The scientific community refuses to accept the existence of these beings despite the growing amount of evidence.

Within this book you'll learn the basics of Bigfoot research and forensics to help get you started in the field of cryptozoology.

Learn footprint casting, evidence gathering, and the history of these creatures. Also contains actual reports investigated by the author.


Here's a look at the cover art.

That's about all I have for the moment. Keep watch on this page for more in the coming days. See you soon!

Going back to the swamp

Its been a little over a year and a half since the release of my young adult story A Cold Night In Fouke. That story quickly became my most successful effort and has been well received by readers. It peaked at #2 on the best seller list and remained in the top 100 for the better part of a year. I never dreamed that it would be the hit that it was and still is.

The story is loosely based on The Legend of Boggy Creek, a cult classic documentary from the drive-in era. It was more than just a film. The history of The Fouke Monster is a long one and filled with many hair raising encounters that took place in and around the small Arkansas town. I first saw the film when I was about four and was immediately hooked. It has remained my favorite film of all time and introduced me to the world of Sasquatch and Cryptozoology. I wrote A Cold Night In Fouke as a tribute and could not be happier with the reception.

Ever since the release of my story, I've wanted to do a sequel and have been kicking around ideas ever since. I'm happy to announce that the time has come. Today I officially began work on Welcome To Boggy Creek. This story will take place four years later and will tie in to A Cold Night in Fouke but can also be read as a stand alone tale. Fans of Fouke will be getting their wish for a longer story because Welcome To Boggy Creek will be a novella. Keep your eyes on this page for updates. I will also be doing Bigfoot Week again. I hope you're as excited as I am.

The Legend Lives!

You can also find a print version of A Cold Night In Fouke in my new collection of shorts The Hangman's Lullaby and Other Horrors by clicking HERE.

A Little About Me

Howdy, folks.

Over the last few months, I've had the pleasure of meeting lots of new, wonderful, people. Having said that, I think it would be a good time to fill everyone in on who I am and what I do.

I was born and raised in the mountains of Western North Carolina and still reside there today. At the age of 18, I joined Green River Fire and Rescue and have witnessed some pretty wild things over the years. The one call that I will remember until the day I die came over the radio as, "Central to EMS base - Green River. Domestic Assault. The wife is chasing the husband down the road with a running chainsaw!" There have been many adventures since then, but that is definitely in my top three.

Growing up in the mountains, I've always loved hearing the old ghost stories and folklore that comes with the territory. Those range from a headless spectre that is said to wander the cemetery of Crossroads Baptist Church, an old man who liked to drink the blood of his livestock, strange creatures that are said to wander through the mountains, strange lights, UFO sightings and so forth. All of this really stuck with me throughout my life.

I began writing when I was ten-years-old. It was mainly a tool to cure boredom in class, but it quickly became a hobby. I began thinking of all the stories I had been told and started creating my own.

A few years later, I had amassed quite a collection of tales and decided to see if I could get them published. I dug the old typewriter out of the barn, typed them up and drew my own cover that featured a hideous, horned, creature floating above a graveyard. My first collection was entitled Tales From The Demon. I found the address of a publisher from an old paperback, shipped off my manuscript and waited...and waited. I never heard back from them. In hindsight, I wish I had made another copy of the book instead of sending my only copy. I would really like to see those old stories again.

I kept writing but my output was pretty minimal until my freshman year of high school. I was taking a creative writing class and my teacher was very supportive and encouraged me to keep going with my stories. I had my first poem published that year. I had found a publisher online and decided to give it another chance. Black Hills was my debut and it appeared in a limited hardcover collection entitled From The Mountaintop. It has since gone out of print.

In 2010, I was introduced to Irish-based publishing company KNIGHTWATCH PRESS and saw that they were accepting submissions for an upcoming anthology. Just for shiggles, I decided to give it another chance. My short story, Isolated Incident, was accepted for RHONNY REAPER'S ROADKILL CAFE and that acceptance letter was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen in my life.

Taking a more serious approach to my writing, I kept going. I had several more stories published through Knightwatch in various anthologies and even dabbled in self publishing.

One of my biggest passions has always been the field of cryptozoology (the study of animals that have not yet been recognised by science, such as Bigfoot) and it was inevitable that I would combine that with my fiction. STICKS AND STONES was the result of my marriage ending and the desire to vent some frustrations. It seemed to connect with many of the people who read it and even won an award for best novella.

Today, I'm still pounding away at the keyboard and trying to scare people. My third paperback, THE HANGMAN'S LULLABY AND OTHER HORRORS was released on March 1, 2015 and I'm hard at work on the next project, WELCOME TO BOGGY CREEK - a (sort of) sequel to my bestselling short A COLD NIGHT IN FOUKE.

For those of you who have the dream of being a writer, I'll offer this advice: read everyday, write as much as possible and never give up. If someone tells you that you can't do it, use that as fuel to prove them wrong. Because if this poor, crazy, country boy can do it, you can.

Well... I've rambled enough for tonight. If this is your first visit, feel free to snoop around. If you're in the mood for a laugh, I even have a (horrendously crappy) short film that some friends and I put together a few years ago in the videos section.

I'll see y'all later. Have a good night and thanks for dropping in.

You can check out my full catalog by clicking HERE.

Its coming