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.

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!

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

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.

The Hangman's Lullaby - Out Now!

Hey, guys. Lots of stuff going on in this post. The coming days are going to be pretty exciting!

I'm very happy to announce that my new book, THE HANGMAN'S LULLABY AND OTHER HORRORS, is now available on KINDLE and SPECIAL EDITION PAPERBACK.

- synopsis -
Amazon.com Best Selling Author Charlie Morgan returns with a new collection of tales to make your blood run cold.

THE HANGMAN'S LULLABY - A desperate act of revenge transforms into a successful business venture for a man in the old west. Life is good, but he will soon learn the horrific consequences of making a living in death.

PROWL - After learning that he has a life threatening illness, a young man and his friend set out for one final fishing trip in the North Carolina mountains. When a violent car crash leaves them stranded and seriously injured in the middle of nowhere, they must work together in order to survive. But the nightmare is far from over. Something is lurking in the woods. Watching, waiting and hungry.

THE WILDS - A prequel to the award-winning Sticks And Stones.

HERE BE DEVILS - While staking out his barn in attempt to ward off coyotes, a man makes a horrific discovery.

Also contains the poems THRENODY and BOOGEYMAN

Special Edition Paperback contains
A Cold Night In Fouke (first time in print)
Carcass
and Carcass II: Bloodstorm (first time in print)

I will be signing copies at Greeneman's Treasures in Hendersonville, NC on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 5 - 7 pm. If you're in the area, swing by and say "hello!" I will also be making an announcement about an upcoming project that I'm extremely excited about!

Hope to see you there.

Here's the official press release

Contact

Pattie Greene

Telephone

828-606-8834

Cell

828-606-8834

Email

greenemanstreasures2013@yahoo.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2015

Greeneman’s treasures hosts Local best selling Horror Author, Charlie Morganfor his new book Launch and signing 

Hendersonville, NC, March 23, 2015– GreeneMan’s Treasures, located at 2000 Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville, announces a rare Book Signing Event by WNC’s own Charlie Morgan on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 5 -7 PM at our shop. Mr. Morgan will be signing books available for sale ($5.99) at the Event and on Amazon.com. All are welcome to come out and mix and mingle and meet the Author. Refreshments will be served.

We at GreeneMan’s Treasures are so proud to present, our friend, Charlie Morgan with the much anticipated release of his latest published work, The Hangman’s Lullaby,” says Pattie Greene, Co-owner and Proprietor of GreeneMan’s Treasures.

About the Author: Charlie Morgan, a WNC native, is an Amazon.com Best Selling Horror Author. He is a lifelong horror fan and cryptozoology enthusiast. For the past ten years he has also served as a fireman for Green River Fire and Rescue. Charlie is the author of numerous short stories and novellas, including the best sellers: Sticks and Stones, and A Cold Night in Fouke.

“Slick Gothic Pulp with gusto that is fun and goes down smooth… Charlie Morgan captures the drudgery of small town life quite nicely.” - Chip Fehd of Buyzombie.com

GreeneMan’s Treasures is a locally owned and operated Thrift Store featuring Antiques, Furniture and so much more, gratefully serving Henderson and surrounding counties for nearly 2 years.    

# # #

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Pattie Greene at 828-606-8834 or email at greenemanstreasures2013@yahoo.com.

Getting Back in the Swing of Things

As we are about to say farewell to 2014, I, for one, am ready to tell it to go to hell. It has been a very long and arduous twelve months that have brought more than a fare share of struggles. Any stories that I had been working on were put on hold in order to tackle some serious issues, including some harsh health issues.

Now that things are settling down and I've had some time to actually go back to work, I'm pleased to announce that, at long last, my werewolf story PROWL will be released in the coming weeks. Below is the updated cover for your viewing pleasure. Keep your eyes nailed to the wall of this space for the official release date and pre-order information.

More to come soon.

New Beasties On The Way

First of all, thank you to everyone who sent birthday wishes (even the ones who sent spiders...*grumble grumble* asswipes).

There's been so much going on around here that I really haven't had time to be around as much as I would like. I am happy to report that there's some light at the end of the tunnel and things should be back to normal very soon.

Tomorrow is October 1st (Halloween is just around the corner!) and is also the first anniversary for A Cold Night In Fouke. I couldn't be more happy with the way it's been received. It has been my biggest seller and best reviewed effort to date. Needless to say, the venture into YA territory paid off and there will be more of those to come.

In between working out some things at home, I've been working on the final stages of editing Prowl, my first werewolf story. That should be seeing release in the near future.

I'm still working on my first nonfiction book. As of right now it's untitled but will be a Bigfoot field guide. I would say that its about 85% complete.

Next up is a new novella called Bestial. I'm just going to tease you with it for now. I will say that it's something different and definitely explores the darkest depths of human nature. Possibly the most disturbing thing I've ever written.

And finally, my friend Darren Barker has just released a new novel entitled Deadly Sexual Trance. Cover art by the handsome bastard known as Charlie Morgan.
}:-)~
Be sure to pick it up on your next Amazon raid.

That's about all I have for the time being. I hope you guys are doing well and will talk with you soon.

A Cold Night In Fouke - OUT NOW!

A while back, I decided to try an experiment. The idea was to write a few, cryptozoology-themed, young adult, horror stories. Depending on how they're received, more would follow and be collected into a paperback edition. I'm happy to announce that the first story is now available on Amazon and is my take on the legendary Boggy Creek creature.

Emmett is a young boy who craves adventure and excitement. He dreams of going hunting with his father through the wild swamps of southern Arkansas. The dreams soon become nightmares as something comes hunting for him.

For years, legends of giant creatures have haunted the area around Boggy Creek. Most dismiss the tales as bogeyman myths. For Emmett, the legend is all too real.

"Charlie Morgan delivers the goods with this one. Both fun and terrifying, it's a masterpiece of its genre."
-Eric S Brown, author of the Bigfoot War series.

More to come soon!

Click HERE to get your copy now.